Emergency responders encounter challenging situations every day, from facing the unknown to helping people in difficult circumstances.
Often that adventurous mentality stretches beyond the call of duty into personal life.
Such is the case for a handful of local firefighters and police officers who rappelled more than 800 feet off the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, W.Va., on Saturday as part of the annual Bridge Day.
BRIDGE DAY
* Where: New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville, W.Va., the second highest arch bridge in the world at 876 feet, (the Millau Viaduct in France is the highest at 886 feet)
* When: Third Saturday in October
* What happens: Hundreds of people from across the nation rappel or parachute off the bridge.
Source: www.officialbridg...>
Collegedale firefighter and Southern Adventist University junior Casey Walker, 20, led the team of 14 members that called itself Southern Descent. The team included a 23-year-old hearing impaired student from Tennessee Temple University and several members who had participated before.
“It’s amazing. It’s completely silent,” said Mr. Walker, an outdoor education major, of the descent that takes between six and 10 minutes as people drop slowly from the bridge. “You just kind of get to look around and see trees coming up. It’s really cool.”
He and others who had participated in the event before encouraged others to join the team.
On Saturday, Erica Vance became the first hearing impaired person to participate in Bridge Day, which originated in November 1980 and now attracts about 80,000 spectators each year. She trained with other students to prepare for the event and got comfortable communicating with and trusting them, she said via e-mail. She most loved the mountain scenery as she descended toward the gorge, she said.
“I fell in love (with) outdoor activities,” said Ms. Vance, who uses sign language to communicate with people but has cochlear implants as well. “I see it as a benefit for everyone. Students learn about teamwork, encouraging team members and learning about what God has for us.”
Chattanooga Police Department Capt. Jeff Francis and his son, Officer Daniel Francis, both were part of the Southern Descent group, the latter acting as an interpreter for Ms. Vance.
“To watch the team embrace Erica and say, ‘What can we do to help you fulfill this?’ That was awesome,” Capt. Francis said.
Other team members spoke to her so she could read their lips, Mr. Walker said.
“Most of us have been rappelling with her before,” he said. “It was a little difficult for us because we don’t know sign language... (but) it wasn’t really scary for any of us.”
Mark 2 1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
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