Letters to the editor

A thank you

On a sunny July 10, my husband and I decided to take a motorcycle ride around the Flathead Lake from our home in Whitefish. Unfortunately, we never made it around.

We were involved in an accident just south of Bigfork on Montana Highway 35 and are lucky, so very lucky to be alive today.

First, we wore helmets, which definitely saved my life; yes, we did sustain injuries but minor compared to "what could have happened."

The purpose of our letter is to extend a great big THANK YOU to the Bigfork emergency crews and ordinary citizens who showed up. We don't have everyone's names but we can list a few: the red-headed firefighter that went the extra mile to get my husband some water (after he established he was stable); the young motorcycle rider who simply volunteered to hold my hand while I laid in the ditch; the "Harley dude" who's last name is Burton who took my boot off; Louise an EMT from Coram — you were like an angel that suddenly appeared, you showed up miraculously within minutes in your EMT vest and with your first-responder kit; the "two Tracys' and Ron from Bigfork Ambulance who transported me with professionalism and skill; and all who slowed down, respected the road and all those who drive carefully along our highways this time of year. Be (extra) careful out there. We were surrounded by such caring and skilled Montana people and we cannot say "thank you" enough.

Maureen Cleary and

Ernie Moore

Whitefish