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Humbling Weekend creates great joy!!!


The #COMBOMEDIC is back after a short hiatus...sorry about the delay, but I took a couple days off to recoup.  And yet, I remain tired...still!  I guess that is a sign, I just don't know of what yet.  There are times in which the significance of the events are overwhelming in and of themselves and yet when you combine them with something else it is even better.  For me this past weekend was just that...a weekend of such significance that it was overwhelming. 

Mountain Man Memorial March

On Saturday the 20th of April I has the privilege of walking for soldiers that have given their lives in the defense of a grateful nation.  I was asked to participate in the Mountain Man Memorial March and was part of a team that comprised military members, family members, and high school guys and girls.  On this day we took part in a 13.1 mile march around a terrain composed of flat areas and a large amount of mountainous hills.  This isn't supposed to be an easy march nor was it, but in the end we accomplished something as a team and it was a personal accomplishment that I can be proud of for years to come.  I have several great friends associated with this march, but those that I am most humbled to meet were the families who had lost loved ones to wars this country has been part of.

These gold star families have given their all stateside as their loved ones gave their lives on foreign soil so that others may have the same freedoms we do, or to help protect ourselves and others from terrorist activities. 

The beginning of the walk was tremendous seeing the local fire department with their tower out over the main parkway hanging a large United States Flag while a retired member of the USMC wore his dress blues saluting each marcher  as they walked by.  Then as we continued on we were faced with the beautiful mountains (we weren't thinking they were so beautiful at the time) that we were surrounded by, then came the camaraderie of people as they doubled back after they reached their rally point and kept urging those behind to keep up the good work.  The 13.1 miles was hard (especially when you don't really train for it) but when it was over I was truly blessed by the meaning behind the event. 

One Great Day of CPR

Several months ago, a close friend and I met with the Mayor of our town to discuss the upcoming conference that her and I were planning.  This conference is for the Tennessee EMS Education Association which will bring a large number of EMS educators to our East Tennessee town.  During our conversation, we began speaking about the benefits of community based CPR programs and it turned into the One Great Day of CPR being held in the heart of downtown.  For five hours we worked to teach the techniques of CPR to any that wanted to come.  We taught adult, child, infant CPR with AED use and the techniques of choking relief.  You look at the towns that have active community based CPR programs and their community members have a greater chance of survival.  We brought together several institutions and agencies to put on this training and bring another 100+ people into the know with CPR...

The great nature of this weekend is overwhelming...now I must go and prepared for this evenings episode of the EMS Educast. 

Take Care and Stay Safe!
The Combomedic

twitter.com/dsblev 

Comments

  1. Greg Friese, MS, NRPApril 24, 2013 at 6:35 PM

    Congratulations!

    I sense a marathon in your future.

    PS. I would recommend training :)

    ReplyDelete

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