Monday, January 12, 2009

Search and Rescue







I can't help but take the time to write a thing or two about my amazing husband. This weekend really helped me to see some fantastic qualities about him. I have seen them before but sometimes I just get so wrapped up with the ho and hum of taking care of the kids I forget to stop and acknowledge the wonderful man he is. This past ten days(off and on) Brian has spent a lot of time to help search for a missing woman. As most people know he serves on the Search and Rescue team down here in Washington County. He is on two of the teams, the high angle(rock climbing) and the ground team. He has gone on many searches and most of them are a sacrifice because it is never good timing for what is happening with the family when the search gets paged out. He has had to leave during parties, family functions, date nights and in the middle of the night too. This is a calling only for those that are truly committed, and supported by their wives too. This is not possible without both parties being fully committed. I must admit that it is really hard sometimes to support a search but the happiness of a lost person being found or the closure that it can bring family members of a body being found and recovered is really satisfying to the team. This weekend the search was on the news and in papers around the state as a lot of searches are but this search was really long and they would not have recovered her body had they not had the volunteers of the Search and Rescue teams. Brian was so passionate about helping and he got calls from the Sgt. to do specific climbs and hikes. He was a trooper and I truly saw the light in his eyes through helping someone else in need. Even though it is difficult to have him gone, it is a good feeling to know that he was a part in helping this family have closure. Brian you are amazing and I love you. Also an article was written in the Spectrum about the team....



Search and Rescue(The Spectrum Editorial)



Many people simply don't understand the training and commitment that comes with keeping the public safe. For their efforts on a daily basis, we owe a great debt to police and sheriff's officers and firefighters.
There is another group, however, that gets little recognition but plays a big part in helping people who are lost, stranded or injured in remote locations. They are the men and women of local search-and-rescue teams.
Unlike the full-time officers who they often work with side by side, search-and-rescue team members usually are volunteers who use their own equipment - usually at their own expense - and give their own time to help others.
In just the 10 days, for example, we've seen search-and-rescue teams attempt to locate an Ivins woman who disappeared from her home on New Year's Day. Team members from both Washington and Iron counties searched the Red Mountain area and other rugged areas in a successful attempt to find the woman.
They searched on foot, by air and via ATVs over rough terrain. They put themselves in danger, as these teams often do, for a person they had never before met.
Local law enforcement officers are almost universal in their praise for these volunteers. They point out the critical role that they serve in helping assist people in need. They also point out how, without these volunteer heroes, that the counties simply wouldn't be able to provide the kinds of service we currently receive, at least not without a greatly increased cost.
The work isn't easy. Many times, the team members have to deal with adverse weather conditions, dangerous terrain and with the possibility that their search will not result in a positive outcome for the family members of the missing person.
Yet the team members put aside thoughts of their own well-being to lend a hand and to provide some hope for both the stranded or missing person and that person's family members.
Many times, these team members are able to extract people from terrible situations. They are able to bring a loved one home to their families.
Too often, search-and-rescue teams' efforts go unnoticed. So we say "thank you" for all that you do. This region appreciates the service you provide.
This search was over really dangerous terrain and many times the guys had to be dropped off in the area of search by helicopter because it could not be reached on foot. One of the pictures is of the recovery on Sunday where they had to put every training they have ever had to use. The pulley system they had to use was over a 400 foot drop. And the other pics are of the same search but the woman had not yet been found.



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