This letter is in response to the front page article last Friday October 26. This article recognized Cst. Earle and Murray for their heroic efforts in April when a vehicle was under water. I completely agree that their efforts should be recognized.
My problem is that the rest of the heroes weren't mentioned. In the article it states that two firemen were there to help, when in reality there was three that went into the water that day, plus others that were there helping on dry land. Fire Chief Trent Lee, and Travis VanMeer were suited up in the fire departments water rescue equipment, and Travis Singleton then went out in the boat with supplies wearing only a life jacket.
I would also like to point out another hero. I don't know his name, but he was a trucker driver from JJ Trucking who happened to be hauling a backhoe that day and was asked to pull over to help. If it wasn't for his quick actions and use of his backhoe, the truck would not have been able to be winched out in under eight minutes!
I would also like to point out another hero on this same day. Many hours earlier in the wee hours of the night the fire department was paged to a house fire. Upon arriving the house was engulfed in flames and they could only try to save the homes surrounding it.
However, before the fire department arrived Ron Thompson of Carlyle had been outside at his own home and realized there was smoke coming from somewhere. Upon further investigation he realized this house was on fire. He banged on the doors and the basement windows, then ran to both neighbors to awake them and alert them to what was going on. When he returned to the yard of the burning house a young man stood there. Ron asked him where he came from, and the young man replied "I was in the basement, sleeping" if you ask Ron, he doesn't seem himself as a hero, but he is! Our Carlyle Volunteer Fire department is exactly that, volunteers. They give of their time day or night, any day of the week. Leaving their paid jobs, giving up nights of sleep, giving up or postponing prior engagements to help ANYONE that needs their help for whatever reason.
As a wife of a volunteer firemen here in Carlyle, not only do I fully support him but every time he goes out on a call I worry and I pray he comes home, just as all the other spouses of the firemen, RCMP, and EMT's do.
My intent is not to minimize the heroic efforts of anyone, but to recognize the heroes that very often go unrecognized.
I would encourage our community to recognize our Volunteer Fire Department for the role they play in our community, because without community support there may not be a Volunteer Fire Department in our community.
Sincerely,
Robin Brownlee
