Singing and holding candles, hundreds remembered Flight Nurse Clint Reger, Paramedic Chris Ritz and Pilot Jim Bradshaw.

"He finally felt like he was having the chance to make a difference in the world," a speaker said of Bradshaw.

The difference they made was evident by all those who gathered on a helipad at a medical center in Lassen County to pay tribute.

"They went out of their line to save people's lives everyday knowing the risk and unfortunately something tragic happened with them," Travis Gray of Mountain Life Flight said.

"I'd like to thank them for all the times they flew me during my illness 12 years ago which was about nine times," a woman speaker said.

Austin Markum was Chris Ritz's friend and remembers going to many of Ritz's son's football games.

"He was stretched out through the community he touched a lot of people's lives here," Markum said.

Clint Reger's wife spoke:

"The one word that comes to mind when I think of Clint is love because he is the most loving man that I ever met," Megan said.

All three men who so loved to help others, and made the ultimate sacrifice to do it.

An official memorial is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Mountain Life Flight.