base311
November 27th, 2000, 07:06 AM
Well Hello Friends!
I have meant to write before now.
To all who were there: I was very moved by the experience of our weekend in Moab. What a wonderful treasure it is to have been part of that. I am so grateful for having been a part of Earl's life, and grateful for all whose lives have touched mine. Thank you.
While in Moab for the weekend, I bumped into Mr. Tom Taylor (of T.I. Maps, etc.(http://www.moabmaps.com/)and the Moab Times newspaper). He expressed his condolances for our collective losses and offered to print a piece in the newspaper detailing the memorial. I am taking this opportunity to point you to http://www.moabtimes.com/ for the newsbit. Further, I am re-posting it here. I'm not certain whether they published the photos I sent in the print-edition of Moab Times (locals? have you seen it?). Anyway, here it is:
___begin moabtimes article___
BASE jumpers honor fallen friends
On Saturday, Nov. 4, several family members and many friends from around the country celebrated the lives of Clint Ford and Earl Redfern at the northeastern rim of Mineral Canyon. The two men were killed in a plane crash in Mineral Canyon on July 18, 2000.
In addition to being licensed pilots, both men were avid skydivers and BASE jumpers. BASE jumping is a sport in which jumpers leap from either a Building, an Antenna, a Span (bridge) or Earth (cliff) with parachutes. A memorial jump conducted by friends and family, usually with the deceased's ashes spread during the jump, is fairly customary in both sports.
The celebration began when everyone gathered at the Mineral Canyon rim overlooking the site where their plane had crashed, a few miles north of Mineral Bottom. Several people spoke of their friendships with the men while others read soothing, inspirational passages or letters from persons who were unable to attend. After everyone had spoken, the first BASE jumper leapt with the ashes of both men, one in each hand, and scattered the ashes during free-fall. Twenty-six jumpers followed, some scattering ashes and others performing aerial acrobatics, until all jumpers were safely on the ground beneath the rim.
As is also customary the first jumper gets to name any site which has not been previously jumped. The new jump-site was named 'C.E.-YA!' - the initials of each man's name blended with a traditional phrase uttered by most jumpers as they leap - a fitting dedication to both men.
____end moabtimes article___
Well, there it is. I sure do miss those guys. I hope this post finds all of you well.
Love,
Gardner
I have meant to write before now.
To all who were there: I was very moved by the experience of our weekend in Moab. What a wonderful treasure it is to have been part of that. I am so grateful for having been a part of Earl's life, and grateful for all whose lives have touched mine. Thank you.
While in Moab for the weekend, I bumped into Mr. Tom Taylor (of T.I. Maps, etc.(http://www.moabmaps.com/)and the Moab Times newspaper). He expressed his condolances for our collective losses and offered to print a piece in the newspaper detailing the memorial. I am taking this opportunity to point you to http://www.moabtimes.com/ for the newsbit. Further, I am re-posting it here. I'm not certain whether they published the photos I sent in the print-edition of Moab Times (locals? have you seen it?). Anyway, here it is:
___begin moabtimes article___
BASE jumpers honor fallen friends
On Saturday, Nov. 4, several family members and many friends from around the country celebrated the lives of Clint Ford and Earl Redfern at the northeastern rim of Mineral Canyon. The two men were killed in a plane crash in Mineral Canyon on July 18, 2000.
In addition to being licensed pilots, both men were avid skydivers and BASE jumpers. BASE jumping is a sport in which jumpers leap from either a Building, an Antenna, a Span (bridge) or Earth (cliff) with parachutes. A memorial jump conducted by friends and family, usually with the deceased's ashes spread during the jump, is fairly customary in both sports.
The celebration began when everyone gathered at the Mineral Canyon rim overlooking the site where their plane had crashed, a few miles north of Mineral Bottom. Several people spoke of their friendships with the men while others read soothing, inspirational passages or letters from persons who were unable to attend. After everyone had spoken, the first BASE jumper leapt with the ashes of both men, one in each hand, and scattered the ashes during free-fall. Twenty-six jumpers followed, some scattering ashes and others performing aerial acrobatics, until all jumpers were safely on the ground beneath the rim.
As is also customary the first jumper gets to name any site which has not been previously jumped. The new jump-site was named 'C.E.-YA!' - the initials of each man's name blended with a traditional phrase uttered by most jumpers as they leap - a fitting dedication to both men.
____end moabtimes article___
Well, there it is. I sure do miss those guys. I hope this post finds all of you well.
Love,
Gardner