Our everyday heroes, who in reality are Moms, Dads, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters and so on, risk their own lives to help people in trouble everyday. FireFighters and First Responders do it without expectation of accolades or even a thank-you. This page is to recognize these awesome people and their actions that save lives and property. As they serve our communities selflessly with Honor and Bravery. Extra special Thanks to the following Men and Women.
The following Memorial would not be possible without the contributions of Claudia Pounds. It is her work in part that you see below for Darrel "Shifty" Powers. You will find links to leave a message of thanks to an American Hero and also read what others have said. PLEASE take a moment and pay your respects to this man. 5 minutes of your time now, will last a lifetime. Specials Thanks to Claudia for the photos and text. Wikipedia was also a great source with links. All other contributors are noted as well. If I missed anything, my apologies and send me a note.
Birth: Mar. 13, 1923 Clinchco Dickenson County Virginia, USA Death: Jun. 17, 2009 Clinchco Dickenson County Virginia, USA
World War II Hero. He was a former United States Army paratrooper and sharpshooter, considered the best in his company. A member of the famed 101st Airborne Division; E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. An original member of Easy Company, he trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He fought against the German Army in numerous battles across France and Belgium. He jumped into Normandy on D-Day, and was involved in the assault on Carentan. In 2001, he was portrayed in all ten episodes of the award winning HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers" and spoke on camera of his grim tasks during the war. He contributed to the 2009 book, We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers.
Powers was born in Clinchco, Dickenson County, Virginia and volunteered for the paratroopers with his good friend, "Popeye" Wynn. Shifty spent a great deal of time in the outdoors hunting game prior to joining the service. This would later prove useful as many of the skills he obtained helped him as a soldier. Powers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, missing his drop zone. He eventually came in contact with Floyd Talbert and the two made their way to Easy Company. He participated in the assault of Carentan and every major battle Easy Company was involved with until the end of the war. He was considered by many to be the best shot in the company.
Because many men serving in the 101st lacked the minimum points required to return home, a lottery was put in place. Shifty Powers won this lottery after the rest of the company rigged it in his favor by removing their own names, and was set to return stateside. During the trip to the airfield, the vehicle Shifty was in was involved in an accident and Shifty was badly injured. He spent many months recuperating in hospitals overseas while his comrades in arms arrived home long before he did.
Honorably discharged from the Army in the postwar demobilization, he became a machinist for the Clinchfield Coal Corporation.
You can sign up to research over 35 million records of people that have passed.. Its free and only takes a second at Find-A-Grave. com. They will email you a code to sign up and then you can leave your message.Start by going here.
I first became aware of Alex through the great people at The FireFighters Cancer Support Network. I sent Alex a "Fire Recue" shirt and wished him well in a note along with some Barbecue Sauce. Never really giving much thought about it until I opened an email from Carol Ramnarine the Secretary and Wellness Coordinator at the FCSN. My heart sank, as I read these words:
Dear Chef Matt; I do not know if you have visited our website lately or know about Alex Blom’s passing. We have a memorial page for him on our Firefighter Cancer Support Network website. I want to thank you for your kind gifts to this young person who has succumb to his battle of cancer. It meant a lot to his family and us.
With permission from the FCSN, I have posted Alex's Memorial from their FCSN site for all to see. My heart goes out to Alex's Family and friends. I don't have the words as to how sorry I am. I'll hug my sons a little closer and kiss them a little longer tonight. Though they wont know why, Its for Alex. Rest in Peace little man. Rest.
I also want to thank everyone at the FireFighters Cancer Support Network. The objective of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) is to provide timely assistance to all fire service members and their families in the event of cancer diagnosis. There are many Memorials on the FireFighters Cancer Support Network page. I cannot say enough about the work that these people do for our everyday heroes. Please visit the FCSN site.
Times are very difficult right now for everyone, but if you are able to make a donation of $10.00 or more to FCSN, it really does go a long way to providing assistance to America's Bravest. If not we understand. Stay Safe everyone and Thank you again for reading.
Alex Blom, : 05/08/2009 Alexander Christian Blom, 14 years of age, died peacefully at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth Friday morning, May 8, 2009, with his family by his side.
Alex was born at St Luke's Hospital in Duluth on September 20, 1994. At age 2 1/2, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He attended Caribou Lake and Pike Lake elementary schools and never let cancer get in the way of doing the things he enjoyed. He loved sports and played soccer, hockey, basketball, football, golf and Little League baseball. Alex was currently an 8th grade student at Proctor's Jedlicka Middle School where he had many friends. He enjoyed traveling, especially the annual road trip out West to Wyoming and Montana, with the nightly Yahtzee tournaments and campfires. He loved his 4 wheeler, enjoyed snowmobiling and plowing the driveway. Alex began collecting model semi trucks at an early age and could identify every make and model out on the road. His favorite trucks were the signature red Kenworths at Jeff Foster Trucking. But his pride and joy was his very own 1972 Ford F100 pickup, a 14th birthday present that his Dad hypothetically let him drive to Floodwood and back one day about two months ago. Last summer, Alex created his own company, Alex Blom Lawn Care. He was a pit crewman for his brother, Austin, and Blom Racing. He loved watching his brother race every weekend. He was a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins and was a guest at their batting practice last September. Alex enjoyed life to the fullest, had a great work ethic and a million dollar smile.
Alex was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James Blackburn, Aunt Gillian Blackburn and the old family dog, Cody.
He is survived and will be sadly missed by his parents, James Blom and Nanette Blom; his sister Erin and brother Austin of Twig; paternal grandparents Oscar and Betty Blom of Alborn; maternal grandmother Kathleen Blackburn of Hermantown; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, his dogs, Buster and Moose, his classmates and best buds, Jacob and Jimmy.
Alex's family wishes to thank the caring staff at Solvay Hospice House, Dr Stephen Haines, Dr Christopher Moertel and the staff at University of MN Medical Center, Dr Jackie Wiermaa, Dr Andrea Watson of SMDC/Duluth Clinic Pediatric Oncology, the Minnesota Twins, Proctor School District, and all those who planned, participated in the Alex Blom Benefit at the LeGrande Supper Club in January. It is with hope that each of you who knew Alex carry on the spirit that defined his life. If we do that, the world will surely become a better place.
As we are finding out, losing Alex is the hardest thing we've ever had to face. There are so many details to be worked out for his funeral, yet we are so overcome with grief at any given moment that it's difficult to keep going.
Mother's Day should not be spent writing an obituary for a child, or picking out a gravesite, but that's what we did Sunday. If there's one bright spot it's being able to look over years' worth of photographs of the kids when they were little and seeing all the crazy things they did. It's obvious in all the pictures that cancer didn't stop a little boy from having a lot of fun and living life to the fullest. We miss him so much that there are no words to describe it! Thank you all for the heartfelt messages that have been left here on Caringbridge. And thank you to everyone who has left flowers next to his Alex Blom Lawn Care sign out by the road as a memorial.
The funeral arrangements are being finalized Monday and we'll post them soon. We know Alex is with us and helping us get through each day. More later....we are all exhausted.
By the way, Cancer...you did NOT win.
Love, Alex's Family
Last Thursday, May 14th, was the saddest day for us. We laid Alex to rest after his funeral and a part of us went with him that day. We miss him terribly and our grief is still so overwhelming. We just want to share with everyone how we celebrated his life last week.
The staff at Proctor Middle School asked us to have a visitation at the high school so all of his friends and teachers could say goodbye in a familiar place - one that Alex loved and where they could surround each other for support. Visitation was held in the high school gym and the students and faculty, with help from Erin, put together a program in the auditorium to honor Alex's life. The principal spoke first, ForthAngel, Erin's boyfriend Scotty's band, played "Believe", a very emotional song that was written by him for Alex, two students performed a song, and a slide show of Alex's life was shown. Erin and her aunt Jane put that together and used Jason Aldean's "Amarillo Sky" and Linda Ronstadt's "Somewhere Out There" as background music. It was very emotional for everybody seeing all those images of Alex's smiling face up on the screen. The 8th grade choir closed the program with "Take Me out to the Ballgame". We cant say enough how special the students are - seeing all the tears and how much they supported each other was truly amazing as they said goodbye to their friend. It touched all of us, knowing how much they loved our son.
So many people came to the funeral home for Wednesday night's visitation and, again, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy. One of the most difficult times of the week was after everyone had gone home and it was just us there with Alex. The entire front of the chapel was filled with floral arrangements. We chose wildflowers for Alex, and had some of his cherished belongings there with him - his Twins jersey and his well-worn work boots among them. It was hard to leave there that night knowing the next day would be our last with him.
We said our final goodbye to Alex on Thursday afternoon at St Raphael's Church. As his casket was being closed, Alex's friends from Jeff Foster Trucking blew the horn on the favorite red Kenworth truck he loved so much which they drove to the church and had parked right outside. It was the saddest day for us. Alex was laid to rest in the New Independence Township cemetery, next to the woods. As we said our goodbye, a bald eagle soared overhead. I will explain the significance of bald eagles in a different post, and it is worth sharing, especially with those who believe that loved ones send signs that they are at peace.
To say goodbye to someone so young, so full of life and loved by so many has been the hardest thing we've ever faced as a family. We are grateful to Atkins Northland Funeral Home for the sincere care they gave us during that most difficult week, to Father Dale Nau of St Raphael's for his kindness and spiritual support, and to soloist Bill Bastien who honored Alex with his beautiful voice. We couldn't have survived all the sadness without our family and friends, and all of you who have followed Alex's journey on Caringbridge. Rest in Peace, dear Alex. We know you're out there somewhere watching over us.
Love, Alex's Family
Lt. Brad Hutcherson White House Volunteer Fire Department member, died August 24, 2008 in a single vehicle crash just a couple of miles up the road from his fire station. At such a young age of only 25 years, Brad had already decided what he wanted to do. FireFighting would always be a part of his life and had a vision to have a training site for surrounding FireFighters to come together and learn to work together. At Lt. Hutcherson's Burial service, it was then and there that his legacy came to life at his passing. The Lt. Brad Hutcherson Memorial Fire School Is now entering its second year. So many people and companies have come together to make this possible. There is always room for one more. In the spirit of the Brotherhood of FireFighters and the selfless giving to others when they need it most, It is with great pride that we acknowledge the efforts of Steve and Connie Hutcherson (the parents of Brad Hutcherson), Captain Trey Nelms, and the instructors of the Lt. Brad Hutcherson Memorial Fire School. Visit them by clicking on the banner below.
Brads Father has requested this video tribute to his son. A community of friends, families and admirers come together to say their last good byes. No father should have to do this. Please take a moment and Watch it here
A death , any death is a tragic event, more so when the loss is greater to many hearts. People have the ability to love which is the greatest of all. And to be so passionate that love knows no boundries and cannot be dismissed. To have known this love from the unborn child to the undying sole is beyond grace. Because we think of the here and now, it is very hard to understand the greater good of a persons spirit. That which remains with you each day, perhaps a smile, A laugh, a loving gesture of the eyes combined with the softest of touches. So many spirits that have come to god, still lost, although they have acceptance. Their love of of earthly remembrances and family ties is so great that even our father cannot change it. This is the power of the human spirit. That a mother should bear such pain during birth to share a tie and bond with a child far beyond her death. That a belief in faith should cause wars, heal souls, and be scripted as the beginnings of man. Our Father will not put upon you that which is not necessary. For the pains that you you feel in your heart and your mind are as real as a burn to the flesh. For the sake of your children concieved from love and the gift of god that you should be so fortunate to bear children, learn of loves, feel sorrow and rejoice in happiness. The greater appreciation comes from a combination of emotions, Fear, Happiness, loss, birth , compassion, and self worth. PEOPLE are FireFighters and share all emotions as people and humans do. FireFighters are SPECIAL people as they display a giveness of themselves more than others on a public stage. Have peace in your heart and outward tranquility will follow. The human race is the greatest of works from the beginning. To aquaint with the friends and family of a lost friend and loved one is the greatest tribute, to know and remember them in the best of times. Have peace in knowing that at the end, your presence bears witness to their life. Such an honor is only for the few that are worthy. Man is great, FireFighters are the best of man. God Bless and peace for you all.-Chef Matt-
This is a picture of The Medal of Valor Recipients. These men received their medals for their courageous actions in saving a vital part of a local refinery that had an explosion on Feb. 18, 2008. If these men had not done the job they did during this fire it was said that the refinery would not have rebuilt and it would have taken many lives. During the beginning stages of the fire these brave men defended the Cat Cracker Unit of the refinery. They had several fires and explosion to deal with along with direct flame impingement on the hot and cold receivers that were full of gasoline. They were able to contain and extingush the fires and save the unit.
Top Left – Right Assistant Chief Kem Hooper, Battalion Chief Josh Sullivan, Firefighter Justin Jernigan, Firefighter Paul Starr, Firefighter Codee Barraza Battalion Chief Zach Johnson
Bottom Left – Right, Captain Eric Barber, Assistant Chief Jerry Crawford, Battalion Chief Mitch Hooper, Firefighter Ryan Kennedy
