The four hats Mickey Charles Lippy wore over the course of his career -- three firefighter helmets and his State Police Medvac headgear -- were prominently displayed at the front of Gamber and Community Fire Hall on Friday morning.

But it was the stuffed Pink Panther, bandaged from head to toe, that revealed Lippy's passion.

A Trooper First Class flight paramedic for the State Police, Lippy, 34, was killed when the helicopter he was working in crashed Sept. 28. At the celebration of his life on Oct. 3, the Pink Panther was proof that Lippy died living his dream.

"This is a very sacred thing, this little guy," the Rev. Michael C. Adams said to the packed fire department hall. "He got it when he was 5 or 6 years old. He had ... a patient."

Literally hundreds of police, fire and rescue personnel from across Maryland attended the Oct. 3 service in Gamber. Several shared memories of Lippy, and spoke of his passion for helping others -- a trait that carried him through his youth all the way through adulthood.

"He dedicated his life to saving others. He fulfilled a dream ... he had from his earliest days," said Gov. Martin O'Malley. "We can never repay the tremendous sacrifice he has made, that the Lippy family made."

Lippy started his career as a volunteer with the Owings Mills Fire Co., rising to the rank of EMS Lieutenant. He then took a job as a firefighter paramedic with the Anne Arundel County Fire department before joining the Maryland State Police's candidate class in September 2004.

Upon his graduation, he was assigned first to the Glen Burnie Barrack and later to the Westminster Barrack, where he achieved his dream to become a flight paramedic. In 2004, he also joined the Gamber department.

"He touched the lives of the many patients who he treated on our helicopter," said Major Andrew J. McAndrew, commander, aviation command. "Mickey wouldn't want us to quit. Despite the risks, they risked their lives to save the lives of others. We will never ever let Mickey's selfless sacrifice be forgotten."

Of the five passengers on the Medevac helicopter, only one survived. Jordan Wells, one of the car accident victims Lippy was treating, was the lone survivor.

Along with Lippy, others who died in the crash included pilot Stephen H. Bunker, Tonya Mallard, a Waldorf paramedic who responded to the accident scene, and Ashley J. Younger, a passenger in the accident.

Jordan Wells' father, Scott, attended Lippy's funeral, calling Lippy and the other officers and firefighters in attendance "heroes."

"His service to the community and to my daughter ... he died doing what he loved to do," Wells said. "We're grateful, extremely grateful."

Lippy leaves behind his wife of eight years, Christina Patchett Lippy and his 4-month old daughter, Madison Jade.

The Rev. Adams urged people to share memories of Lippy, whether good or bad, with "Chrissie" throughout the years and to take care of them. All of Lippy's co-workers told her she and Madison would always be part of their families.

Following the ceremony, Trooper Lippy was laid to rest at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.

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