There were some smiles and laughs. And there were a few tears as they remembered their comrade who was killed Tuesday afternoon doing what he did best - helping others.
Nathaniel Burnfield was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was struck by a tri-axle dump truck after he removed a tire that was obstructing one of the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near Bentleyville.
The 27-year-old police officer was on his way back to the station with two other officers after attending a training seminar at California University of Pennsylvania. He stopped the marked cruiser and activated the emergency lights before removing the wheel that had fallen off a pickup truck.
Ronald Kennedy, 44, of Connellsville, swerved the dump truck around the cruiser, hitting Burnfield, who was on the berm. The truck then continued on the berm of the highway, hitting a UPS tractor-trailer which had pulled to the berm after hitting the tire. Kennedy's truck rolled over, pinning him inside. Burnfield and Kennedy were pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.
His fellow police officers said Burnfield died like he lived, helping others. Township police Detective John Bruner said Burnfield's passion was to protect the public.
"It was wonderful having known Nate and an absolute honor working along his side," Bruner said. "Nate was the complete public servant. Whether it was a burning building or bullets flying, Nate was there without hesitation."
"The hedge of protection that surrounds our community now has a large void to fill," the detective added.
"The residents of South Strabane lost a fine officer," said Sgt. Brad McClay. "And this department lost a fine officer and great friend. We were lucky to have him."
Burnfield was not only a police officer but also a lieutenant with Canton Township Volunteer Fire Company. He joined the fire department in 2002, two years before he joined South Strabane as a part-time police officer. He was promoted to a full-time officer in January 2007.
"He wasn't even involved in the police service when he joined here," said Canton fire Chief Dave Gump. "He was working as a manager at the McDonald's in Trinity Point."
Gump said Burnfield's older brother, Derrick, was a member.
"I recall Derrick saying that his brother wanted to come join," Gump said. "And there he was."
Burnfield jumped into the department with both feet. After his initial training, Burnfield was eager to sign up for almost any training.
"Every time there was a fire school, Nate would hand me the paper and say 'Here, sign this,'" Gump said. "He always wanted to be the first one out the door."
Chuck LaBella said that Burnfield just couldn't sit still. They all chuckled as they remembered a recent trip to Philadelphia to pick up the department's new truck. Burnfield sat in the back of the van singing, "The wheels on the truck go round and round."
In talking with the officers at South Strabane, Gump learned his lieutenant was like that in the police department.
"He was always going 110 mph," Gump said.
When he wasn't working or volunteering at the fire department, Burnfield enjoyed hunting.
"He was proud as a peacock when he got that first deer," Gump said.
Gump's sons, Dave Gump Jr. and Cody Gump, often would go hunting with Burnfield.
Fellow firefighter Pete Grimm said Burnfield was looking forward to bear season.
And he also loved watching University of Michigan football games even though his dad was a Penn State fan.
"I never did get to rub it in when Michigan lost to Penn State," Dave Gump Jr. said. "I asked him once why he liked Michigan football since none of his family had gone there. He said he liked their uniforms when he was a kid and it just kind of stuck."
Gump's wife, Diane, said Burnfield was like their third son.
"He came over to our house one Christmas Eve with a gift made out to his second mom and dad," she said.
Fellow firefighter Pat Reese said Burnfield was looking to purchase a house.
Burnfield's death is especially hard for the firefighters. This is the second time in less than two years they lost one of their own in the line of duty. Canton firefighter Jeremy LaBella was killed Feb. 4, 2007, while fighting a fire while working for Washington Fire Department.
"He did alot for us when Jeremy died," Diane Gump said. "Nate took it very hard."
"Things were just starting to ease up for us," Gump said.
The chief often would see Burnfield as he headed off to work.
"I always told him to be careful," Gump said. "I told him that you don't know how people are going to act and you have to deal with them everyday."
"We are all going to miss him," he added. "It's just not fair to take him like that."
Gump reached into his pocket and showed his wife what he found that morning - a gold guardian angel.
"Is it from Nate or Jeremy or both?" she said. "They are looking over us."
Burnfield's friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington. A firefighters memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and a police memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Church, 135 W. Chestnut St., followed by a procession to Washington Cemetery.