NORTH CODORUS TWP., Pa. -- An American Red Cross blood drive held in York County on Friday, honored two fallen Loganville firefighters. Zachary Sweitzer and Chief Rodney Miller, both gave the ultimate gift in life and death.
Missy Sweitzer, Zachary's mother, said, "It just exemplifies Zac and Rodney because they both had such passions for people, you know helping people."
Sweitzer and Miller were organ and tissue donors. Both firefighters saved lives after their own ended, and the blood donation drive keeps their memories alive.
The two were friends. Sweitzer was a volunteer firefighter and Miller was a 29-year veteran of the fire company. Both lived every day to the fullest with a passion for serving people.
Elaine Miller, Rodney's mother, said, "It's the feeling that we are continuing their legacies of giving back to the community."
They were both killed by drunk drivers. In 2008, Sweitzer was forced off the road, crashed and passed away shortly after Thanksgiving. His family started hosting a blood donation in his memory.
Miller attended those blood drives, then in 2013, he too was killed by a drunk driver, in the line of duty. Members of the community said they came to the blood drive because they will never forget these two firefighters.
Brianna Fitzgibbons, a blood donor, said, "Just keeping them in our memories, and trying to do a good thing for them, and helping other people."
Miller's father, Paul, said, it's nice that the community wants to help save others, especially since blood donations are slow over the holidays.
"Thank you to the community and what they have honored both of these fellows by just the outpouring of community support," he said.
The family created the Chief Rodney Miller Memorial Fund. The money goes toward emergency services.