This may not sound like a "Medneck" story, but I am from the Chicago suburbs,where almost everyone does fire and medic work.  If it wasn't so old, I should send it to Bill Engvall.

     I was on duty the day that the official mourning period ended for the victims of 9-11.  When I was instructed to raise the flag back to full staff, I pulled out the engine (with 55' mini-aerial) and proceeded to raise the flag.

      The engine has the department name across the front, which was pointed at the street, on the cab doors, and in 12" high letters on a panel on each side of the ladder.  I was wearing my fire coat, and a ball cap with the department logo on the front.

     A car pulled up from off the street and the driver proceeded to ask me..." Are you with the Fire Department?"

     I didn't give her her sign, but I did take her donation to the victims' fund.

Yeah, I know.  Kinda like (I work for a private) pull into a nursing home (being polite here) roll the stretcher in and get asked at the nurses' station-"Who you here for?"   That's after you get the sme grilling from the receptionist, who by the way did not exist before HIPPA,   and despite the power trip does not meet the qualifications  of "Need-to-Know".   Or roll in with (as usual) half the information, and get handed the transfer paperwork and get pointed to the general direction of the patient.

My favorite still has to be- go into an ER, especially the Resourse and Medical Control and get bitched out for not calling.  Hello!  we are here with an ill or injured person, that is our and your job, and YES WE DID CALL!!!  I didn't get that much flack when I started in EMS and only a few rigs had MERCI (HEAR, IHERN whatver you call it).