Mounted search and rescue

[mythbehavin <mythbehavin@shaw.ca>]

Hi Ter

Expressing feelings completing searches such as the one you did is almost
impossible from all angles.  Unfortunately I have been involved in all roles
regarding lost persons and the worst one is losing a loved one and not
knowing where to find them.  My family only endured a week but, although we
knew my sister was dead, closure was never achieved until we actually were
able to view her body.  It is a week, which seemed like a lifetime, none of
us ever wish to replay. 

I saw a person, several months afterwards, who was the spitting image of my
sister, and although it brought painful memories to the forefront, I was
able to accept that she was gone.

I feel for the families who searched for longer periods of time and I can
understand what they felt when they saw someone who even remotely reminded
them of their lost one.  It is devastating and it is people like yourself
and others involved in SAR which make this time easier on families who have
lost loved ones.  

My family still feels a strong gratitude for the people who made it possible
for us to see my sister one last time, to obtain closure we needed.  Of
course we were angry that a life so young was cut so short, but the support
we felt from people who were "just doing their job" made a difficult
situation easier to cope with.

I only hope this helps people understand that no matter what the cost,
families need closure and will always feel a strong gratitude to those
people who made this possible.  The pain will always be there but at the
same time, the efforts of others who care, really does help ease that pain.

It is people like you who help ease the burden placed on families who lose
their loved ones.

Susan
MSAR Training Officer
British Columbia
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Mounted search and rescue
Date: April 18, 2004 07:29:59 AM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: [MSAR] End to a Long Search

Yesterday I was part of a search and recovery effort that I will never
forget.

Two hours later our team was notified that a body had been found. After over
five months of countless hours of meetings, planning and searching, we were
a part of a search that finally brought Dru home.

As one MSAR to others I want to share with you all a special feeling I
have.
Trouble is I can not describe it because I do not know whether I am happy or
sad.

What I do know is that I am glad it is over and that our team was a major
part of a large effort that finally helped a family find peace.