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Tina, After meeting you father last year, i could see that he would pursue this jump the following year, (2006) Agreat man he was, thanks for the post to clear up how Brian felt and how he experienced life. My deepest regrets in the loss of your father, whom was THE true pioneer of base jumping. trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

J, that sign blew off on the first run, and we looked all day for it, couldnt find it trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

Well my friends, ive been to 25 bdays and worked the lz for every organizer that has ever taken on this task, and it is a task. These men and women that support this event do an amazing job, for example, there is a meeting every month with the bd commission that we are asked to attend. setting up the registration, making changes, making sure all info is put in the proper place, keeping track of it is quite a job and the average person will never be able to even comprehend what it takes to allow you to show up without a photo (even though you have3 months after registration opens) and still get you through in a timely manner. looking over info for months, we are only human, and do the best that can be done with what we have to work with. The vertical vision team arrives 4 days before this event and leaves 2 days after , and alll of this is to promote this event. By no means do we want to see any of our brothers and sisters get injured or killed. MY POINT being we alll do the best we can and expect the cooperation of all of the jumpers during this time, More jumpers should think of others well being before themselves by making things happen and not laying the blame on anybody. The very bottom line is we all make that decision to jump, nobody makes it for us, we all know what can happen ,even if we are very careful. we as jumpers must take the responsibility for our own actions. Its like saying if the state of wva hadnt of built this bridge, then there would have been 3 fatalities. I for 1 have eyewitnessed all 3 incidents and have jumped after 2 of them. what about drowning, 1 death was a drowning, and yet we are not required to wear floatation, its your choice. Frankly after the drowning, i was next in line and was advised not to jump without floatation and then i stood up and jumped off!! MY CHOICE. So if you damage yourself in any way, anybody could say you shouldnt of jumped, but it was Your choice. Come to grips with life, what you do is a direct influence in your life, and others may be affected. Be a positive effect on others ( If you can, Im not sure some have that in them) but try anyway. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we (Vertical Visions team) are trying to make this the safest event worldwide, but your common sense would help! If this were any of the jumpers we would hold to protocol the same way we are doing now to protect from having the incorrect information being released about any of you! Whether it be an injury or a death. I read the official press release statement in the debrief sat nite, and also escorted the daughter off of the beach, the look in tinas eyes, were that she knew the outcome, no matter what anyone said.This is something that will be with me for the rest of my days. Im just glad others didnt have to be there. Some may have never been back because of this. These are also part of our job, and we are dealing with it the best we can. In conclusion my friends, this a very trying time for the vertical vision team and we are all doing the absolute best we can. Your help and support would be greatly appreciated,. Please respect our fallen Brother as you would want for yourself! Bill Bird LZ Cordinator trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

All of the packingarea debris and cloths went into a bag and were in the box truck @ the end (sat nite) of bd06. when jason gets time he will deal w/it, please give him a break!!! There are very many important issues to deal w / right now, with all of the wet items left behuind im sure some were thrown away, good luck on retriving your items. Not to be negetive here, but if you left anything behind, well thats why it called your gear. At the end of the day i have a crew that cleans up all of the debris and trash , we sort it out, throw the s++t away and bag the rest, most makes it back, some doesnt. bbird trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

Mike, you have given us your thoughts, thanks, if there is anything we can do for you please feel free to contact us @ anytime my friend, my deepest regrets go out to you for the loss of your dear friend and brother. Bill Bird trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

My Friends, A statement is forthcoming from jason on this tragic event, a proper protocol had to be followed to assure that the correct information will be released. Lets not forget we have lost another member of our small community, a pioneer to our sport. Our deepest regrets go out to the family and friends of Brian, he will be remembered forever as 1 of a team to jump el cap for the first time. Brian was a forefather to base before he even knew where it would go. Bridgeday was something that has evolved from his direct actions of the past. godspeed my friend Bill Bird / Co- Organizer trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

Josh, and Dragan family, it was our honor to be able to pay our respects to such a great man as your father. the base community does not have any idea how much jon has helped (with bridgeday) almost everytime i came to town your father and i met for lunch and discussed bridge day, and his latest venture. knowing your dads brothers and crews , i am sure glad you folks will be carring on his legacy on the river. bridge day just wouldnt be the same without ya!!! It is my deepest regrets in the loss of your father, brother ,husband, and my friend, life as we knew it will never be the same!! GODSPEED JON DRAGAN you have touched many of our lives, thanks for being our friend!! respectfully, bill bird

how about that, you two, jason and jenn have been wonderful to work with. what a concept, coupla down home christian boys runnin things :) wouldnt want anybody else for a partners. c ya at the next bridge day commission meeting in november for bday 2005!! ya know i konda like the velcrow pants thing, might be kinda cool!!!! bbird trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown

nobody cares that it takes all year to make this bday work!! the shear satisfaction on the jumpers face upon completion of their jump into the portal of new river gorge is what its all about, jason and jenn are right, they dont push their beliefs on others, only the rules and regulations that are pushed on to them. be glad these wonderful people are willing to put up with this crap so ypou can have a great time!!! keep up the great work bro!! ya know if we could get these folks to commit this much energy during setup and tear down, it wouldnt be near as stressful, instead of complaining maybe the could help out and see whats involved just at the holiday inn, much less at the exit and lz!! have a great day my friends bbird trapped in a portal in time, surrounded by evil, runnin out of gas!!! destination unknown