Love And A Young Man Named Jeremy

By Mike Wallace
Superstition Search & Rescue

Love is defined in our world in many ways. Throughout the history of mankind it has been the source of much happiness, confusion, and misunderstanding. 

I would like to write about some of the rarest and purest forms of this word. With the exception of a few, it seems that selfishness has replaced service and self gratification  — sacrifice. The fourth of eight definitions of love according to Webster is “unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another:” 

Sharing A Story

Let me leave this subject for a moment to share a story with you. I was attending our monthly meeting for Superstition Search and Rescue the first time I met Jeremy.  Compared to the age of most of the members of this team, Jeremy looked like a boy. 

As I shook this boy’s hand, I looked him in the eyes.   I could see his hunger and desire for adventure. I also could see respect and honesty — rare traits for such a young man.

I was impressed by this first meeting, but I thought to my self, “He won’t last.  He is too young and will not be committed to the sacrifices required to be a member of this team.” 

I was right about all but one of my first impressions.   It has been years since that first meeting and Jeremy is still among us.  Jeremy has proven his character many times over.  He has placed his needs (like sleep) aside willingly many times, “pounding ground” (hiking) all night looking for someone lost or injured on many occasions — very rare traits for someone so young.

 When asked about Jeremy, Jennifer, Jeremy’s girlfriend, replied   “It’s amazing the transformation that occurs when his pager goes off. He enters a zone that he doesn’t leave until well after a rescue. He would drop anything, even Christmas dinner (which he has) to go on a rescue.

“It isn’t glory he seeks. It is the satisfaction of knowing he was there to help someone who needed to be rescued” 
  
A Valuable Member Of SSAR

Jeremy has embraced search and rescue and has become a valuable asset to this team.  He is a member of two of the three main sub teams, “Ground Pounder” and “Technical Rescue.”

Jeremy Trains With SSAR

Jeremy, Youngest SSAR Member