A thank you to those making a difference

First and foremost, I would need to thank the parties responsible for the vehicles we were able to send down each time. In 2009, we sent down a small rescue truck that was donated by Pender County Rescue and EMS. This year we were able to send down two vehicles, an ambulance donated by Shelby Rescue, and a fire truck donated by “Engines of Hope” headed up and run by Bill Wandrack. These vehicles gave the Guatemalan people a means for transporting injured and sick people, a truck for fire response and the delivery of rescue equipment and personnel to the scene of an emergency. But as important, it gave us a way to send down additional donated equipment.

All of the equipment that made its way down on the first trip was donated by either, a fire department, fire and rescue dealer, local business or an individual. Both Rocky Mount Fire and the Reds Team donated equipment for the rescue truck. This was comprised of rope gear, hardware, stokes baskets, hand tools and other related equipment. “Rescue Jack” donated a set of stabilization jacks with accessories that we trained their rescuers how to use. ”Turtle Cribbing” gave us plastic cribbing that was also used in our stabilization training. Another donor was “Sterling Rope” who donated lifelines and accessory cords for use in their rope rescue training. “GlassMaster” sent us several tools for windshield removal and “Life Hammer” tossed in several of their window removal hammers. We received several high lift jacks, a come along, and pry bars from “Agri-Supply,” a North Carolina based farm supply company and “Mac Tools” kicked in some air tools and hose, while “Bosch Tools” sent us reciprocating saw blades for vehicle extrication.

This year we again received equipment from a multitude of fire departments after an email on the fire chief’s group mail. They gave us turnout gear, air packs, boots and helmets for the trip. We ended up with more equipment than we could send down on two vehicles. Again “Rescue Jack,” “Turtle Cribbing,” and “Sterling Rope” sent us equipment to send down. We also received two reciprocating saws from “Bosch Tools” and Pro-Tech 8 fire gloves from “Tech Trade.” Both vehicles were packed to the brim with gear and equipment. It was well worth the effort to see the expression on the firefighter’s faces when we gave them the gear. Check out the pictures.

I want to personally thank all of the companies and departments that so generously gave us equipment for the Guatemala mission trips. These companies make top notch equipment and I hope you will consider them for any of your related purchases. I would also like to thank the guys who gave up their time and money, to journey to a country they were totally unfamiliar with, just to teach classes to those they did not know. I think they all came back gratified and fulfilled that they accomplished a great feat.

This year our team was awarded “Ambassadors of Peace to Guatemala” during a very nice ceremony on Friday before we left. We found out we are the only ones from the United States and perhaps from outside Guatemala itself, to ever receive this honor. I am looking forward to our next trip down.