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After a 20-year lapse, vehicle-accident survivor Judy Baker finally got the opportunity on Aug. 15 to say thank-you to those who saved her life when a special gathering was held at Skip’s Grill in Winchester, reuniting her with her rescuing first responders.

Participating in the reunion were Joe Grant and Frankie Taylor, both with the Lexie Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, Winchester Fire Chief Gary Greeson and Broadview Fire Chief Steve Macon. Baker’s immediate family, including granddaughter Tavolyn Payne, mother Shirley Coker and sister Brenda “B.B.” Champion, also attended the special event.

The gathering stemmed from Dec. 23, 2002, when Baker and her 20-year-old daughter, Shandi Garner, were involved in a serious automobile accident on Six Mile Board Road, near Belvidere.

Garner did not survive, and metal had to be cut away from the vehicle with hydraulic rescue equipment to extract Baker.

Baker, who resides in Winchester, said her recollection of the event is sketchy, and she did not know who was involved in the effort to save her. She added that she always wanted to meet them just to pay tribute and extend her personal gratitude.

Greeson had pictures of the crash scene that he shared with Baker, and they talked about the hour-and-six-minute time frame it took to remove her from the vehicle.

Baker, who shed tears while meeting the firemen, said it was great to share in the moment, and the gathering led toward closure for her from the tragic circumstances.

“This put the last two pieces of the puzzle together,” she said, defining how meeting the first responders clarified the grey areas she had harbored about what had happened.

Baker then referred to the effort made by the first responders to rescue her.

“They never get enough credit,” she said. “They definitely don’t get the credit they deserve. They do so much, and it really means a lot. It’s really great to meet them.”

The first responders said they often save lives only to never know what happened to those they rescued.

“We don’t do the job to get thanked, but it’s great to have somebody show their appreciation for something we’ve done,” Greeson said, summing up his thoughts. “It’s very humbling.”

Grant said it was a tremendous experience to meet Baker after 20 years.

“I’m glad she survived,” he said, then referring to accident victims in general. “You never know what happens to them after it’s over. It’s great to meet her.”

Taylor echoed Grant’s assessment.

“It’s nice to be able to see something good come out of such a tragedy,” he said, referring to meeting Baker and witnessing how she had recovered.