A public thank you from the family of Josh Divers

Dear Editor,

It took about thirty minutes to get Josh Divers out from under the airplane the evening of Friday, February 3, 2012.  This was accomplished by firefighters from Paine Field Fire and Boeing Fire, paramedics from Everett Fire and Josh’s co-workers who were there first, the reluctant witnesses to the horrific event, all working together.  No turf battles or red tape, they just got the job done. 

This was followed by twelve minutes in an Airlift Northwest helicopter to Harborview and their skilled doctors and nurses.

These pieces came together that evening to extricate our son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin, Josh, from under the landing gear of a new 787 at Boeing’s Everett facility and collectively to save his life.

It is easy to say the system worked.  In truth it is the dedicated men and women that make it work.  These humble people are our reluctant heroes, the kind that shy away from the limelight, and will tell you thank you but we are just doing our jobs.  We know better, they enter careers demanding long hours away from their families and unfathomable stress, to make sure everyone have a chance to live.

We are confident that the investigation of the accident will assure this won’t happen again.

Josh has many friends, more than we could have imagined.  He also has his faith in God and an inner strength that is remarkable.  Combined with the love and support of his family, Josh will overcome these life altering injuries.

Thank you to all the responders and to the community for your compassion and support.

Linda (Josh’s mother) & Scott Lewis, Gresham, Oregon

The Bachmann’s, Everett

Bob & Linda Moore, Everett

Michelle Wyatt, Arlington

Pam & Richard Striker, Edmunds

Family thanks medics, personnel for son’s rescue

Dear Editor,

On Friday, February 3 our dinner was interrupted with a gut wrenching phone call informing us that our son Josh was being airlifted to Harborview Hospital. Very few details were given, leaving us to wonder if he was dead or alive.
Arriving at the emergency room, we discovered that Josh sustained devastating injuries.
If not for the quick and professional response by Boeing Fire Department, Paine Field Fire, Everett Fire Department and their outstanding Medic personnel, we would not have Josh with us today.
Although he has a long and difficult journey ahead, we are confident that he will recover with the help of the exceptional and caring staff at the Harborview Trauma Center and the prayers of all of his friends and family.
We are also sincerely grateful to the Airlift Northwest critical care team and to the Boeing Company for their support and respect.
Our deepest gratitude to all involved in Josh’s rescue.

Del and Nancy Divers
Lake Stevens

Government needs to control “handouts”

Dear Editor,
 
On average, a person receiving some form of government assistance is equal to $32,700 per year while the average American income is $32,400. This is the first time in our nation’s history that these numbers have been upside down.
We as a society have been used by the politicians and other activist groups to believe that it is the government’s job to ensure, no matter what goes wrong in a person’s life, the government (taxpayer) should bail them out.
I do believe that some people need a helping hand once in a while, but we are creating a society of dependency.
The government is the worst entity to assist and waste more than they help. If the government took less from wage earners, then we could buy more, invest more, save more, and contribute to charity more.
I have people complain to me that charities aren’t enough, but I say of course they are and can be more if we had more to give them.
It is not your job to make me charitable, nor mine to make you charitable or stop your charity.
We all must make our way in this world, we are all responsible for our successes and failures.
The tough part is for people to admit their failures, especially with politicians, lawyers, and therapists making a killing by telling you it is someone else’s fault and not yours.
It is hard to say “no” when you are given something for free, but when it comes from the government it is not free, someone has to pay the bill.
 
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens