Boy Scouts on Derailed Train in Missouri Considered Heroes

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   GA Andersonposted 3 years ago

   Here's a feel-good affirmation for us dinosaurs. This is our story. Instead of pulling out cell phones, a group of Boy Scouts pulled out their values and jumped to give first aid and assistance to victims of the train wreck.
   
              Scouts put emergency and first aid training to work
   
   "The scouts assisted fellow passengers in Monday's deadly Amtrak train wreck in Missouri.
   
   Four people died in the crash and derailment. Another 150 suffered injuries.
   
   The crash and derailment tossed the Boy Scouts and other passengers around the tumbling Amtrak train.
   
   "It was a lot of chaos when it first fell over. There was crying, screaming, a lot of confusion," said 16-year-old Elijah Awe.
   
   Dean Seaborn, 14, was trapped inside the train's restroom.
   
   "Pipes were going loose. Screws were everywhere, water dropping. Everything was completely upside down," Seaborn said.
   
   "You were trapped inside there, for how long?" WISN 12 News reporter Kent Wainscott asked.
   
   "Half an hour roughly. It was hard to keep track of time. I was freaking out," Seaborn said.
   
   But the Appleton scouts, returning from a wilderness scouting camp in New Mexico, quickly put their emergency and first aid training to work.
   
   "I just thought it was really awesome how fast we were able to help other people," Boardman said.
   
   For Awe, that meant caring for his injured father, who suffered cracked vertebrae and bruised ribs, until paramedics arrived."
   
   Take a minute to view the video. Take a look at the boys. That would have been me 55 years ago. Damn glad to see there are still some 'me's' in today's generations.
   
   GA

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      wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      People, generally speaking, are not the monsters that they are portrayed to be.
      
      Thanks for sharing, GA - we need more stories like this to understand just who the people we demonize are.

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         GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Your last point is an important one, but I hadn't gotten that far yet. I'm still wallowing in pride and nostalgia. As mentioned to tsmog, I made that trip too. ;-)
         
         GA

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      tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for sharing!!! Yes, certainly a feel good story while also being edification as to the scouting life I had now in the past. Yet, the slogan; 'Do a good turn daily' as well as the motto; 'Be Prepared', are pillars in my life foundation.
      
      I felt a sense of pride both learning of this story as well as watching the video. Pride of both their actions a result of not only training, yet desire to be a contributing member of society growing to become an adult. And, pride of self for undertaking that scouting journey influenced by my dad, the troop leadership, the church leadership the sponsor of the troop, and the camaraderie of fellowship with friends with like mindedness in the scouting tradition.
      
      Again, thanks for sharing!!! Put a smile on my face

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         GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         It nearly brought a tear of nostalgia to mine. I was on the BSA Eagle trail and made that Camp Philmont trip when I was 16. I'm sure the camp has changed over 50 years, but it looks like its purpose hasn't.
         
         Here's some irony. We also took the trains 50 years ago. And if you take a look at the camp's website you can see most of the same adventures and training as we had then.
         
         BSA Philmont Scout Ranch
         
         GA

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            tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Never made it to Philmont as it was held in high esteem, lacked only turning in my Eagle application late in my journey at 18 not doing so because I had fallen in love ha-ha, thus distracted, yet did achieve my God & Country award early in my journey. Later in life was a commissioner a short while as an adult, but time constraints with job stuff had to resign from it. Though I was LIfe, I never placed a great emphasis on attaining Eagle or wasn't mentored correctly. Flip a coin.
            
            Enjoying my morning being introspective now of that past life and its influence on my life. So many memories while I was a member of three different troops. One in West Virginia taking up hillbilly ways, one at Palmdale, Calif in the middle of the Mojave desert, and the last in Fallbrook, Calif somewhat near the Pacific coast and equal distance between the mountains and the desert. Lots to explore.
            
            P.S. the Philmont link brought back summer camp memories. One thing for sure having been in three different environments with region, the theme is the same.

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      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for this uplifting story. I too can say these boys reminded me of my childhood. One more thing, I loved seeing these boys wear the logo of their state on their T-shirts., and the one boy in a natural beach scene.
      
      Now, this speaks loudly of these boys' pride in their home state, and  I will admit melted my heart.  They are heroes.

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      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "That would have been me 55 years ago."
      
      Oh really? Aren't we the modest one....

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         GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         You got me. Modest about what? (maybe you refer to the sage wisdom I have gained over those 55 years? (it's that hat, it left a spell or something))
         
         GA ;-)

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            Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "There is still some of ME in today's generation".
            
            I think the reaction of most in a situation like this would be to try and help to the extent that they could.

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               GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               Got it. Your thought that most folks would react to help is one I would argue with. But I'm enjoying the positives of this story. So you get a pass.
               
               *The "ME" I meant was not the heroic part of their actions, it was the character part of their actions.
               
               GA

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   abwilliamsposted 3 years ago

   GA, thanks for sharing something that we can ALL agree on!
   I am married to a former boy scout and they prepared him for whatever may come his way.....even me! LOL
   Love it!!

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   Stephen Tomkinsonposted 3 years ago

   Wonderful story. Most people are good, the bad ones throw a long shadow.

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      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      so well siad

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   Jodahposted 3 years ago

   Thank you for sharing. Good news stories are too few and far between.

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      GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, it was a good story.
      
      GA

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