Bill Text: MS SC517 | 2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognize North Jackson Boy Scout Troop 302 for rescuing a man from a freezing river in the Alabama Sipsey Wilderness.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2014-02-06 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC517 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SC517-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Longwitz, Butler (38th), Clarke, Gandy, Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Lee, Parker, Simmons (12th)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 517
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO NORTH JACKSON BOY SCOUT TROOP 302 FOR RISKING THEIR LIVES TO RESCUE A MAN IN THE ALABAMA SIPSEY WILDERNESS ON JANUARY 20, 2013.
WHEREAS, the Boy Scout motto is "BE PREPARED." It is not an exaggeration to say that the members of North Jackson Boy Scout Troop 302 risked their lives to save a life on a winter campout in the North Alabama Sipsey Wilderness Preserve on January 20, 2013; and
WHEREAS, this is an account of the heroic incident: A winter Boy Scout camping trip took Troop 302 to the Sipsey Wilderness Area in North Alabama, a beautiful rugged area. The Sipsey River is emerald green and winds through magnificent outcroppings of shale. Wayne Patterson, 51, of Hartselle, Alabama, was hiking in the wilderness area when he slipped while helping his wife cross a log. He severely injured his knee and fell into the freezing water of Sipsey River just as the sun was setting. He had no flashlight or coat. Patterson's wife ran for help and came upon the campground of Troop 302. The Scouts turned a camping cot into a makeshift stretcher. It took two hours to get Mr. Patterson to safety. The older Scouts and their fathers rotated the strenuous work of hauling the stretcher while the younger Scouts assisted by shining flashlights and clearing the trail. The trail was slick with mud with sharp dropoffs into the Sipsey River. On several occasions, the Scouts nearly slipped and fell into the icy water. It was an exhausting effort and many of the Scouts and their fathers had leg cramps at some time during the effort. There were numerous streams they had to cross, and they got soaked and muddy in the process. Troop Leader Neil Payne said, "I believe that Wayne was in serious trouble and was lucky that his wife found us. I am very proud of all the boys in the way they responded to an emergency situation, especially our older Scouts. At one point, the Scouts were navigating a very steep, slippery part of the trail. I looked down and saw the raging river 50 feet below. Then we all started to slide off the bank. A small sapling growing out of the bank broke our slide and we regained our footing. If they had fallen in, they could have all frozen to death"; and
WHEREAS, wilderness areas such as Sipsey are special areas set aside by the federal government in which no development is allowed, no cell towers, no picnic tables, no roads, nothing. Not a good place to be injured at night in January, wet and freezing with no flashlight or coat. Father Sam Mosley said, "The boys were presented with something out of the ordinary and Neil Payne, the Scoutmaster of Troop 302, had those boys prepared and they responded with great energy and enthusiasm. I cannot express how proud I am of all those boys. You read about these type things in Boys' Life and you think that will never happen to your Scouts, but then it does. It was an experience they will never forget and will pass on to their children"; and
WHEREAS, Boy Scout Troop 302 of North Jackson and their fathers camping at the Sipsey Wilderness area include: John Emmerich, Nicholas Burrow, Jamil Johnson, Sam Mosley, Elliot Weill, Troop Leader Neil Payne, Alexander Payne, Will Mann, Brooks Mosley, John Eric Clark, Camden Yates, Holden Hankins, Jeff Weill and Brent Butler; and
WHEREAS, Scout Sam Mosley said, "Initially the whole thing was kind of a shock. The last thing on my mind was coming across someone seriously injured out in the woods. In the moment, we just reacted. After thinking about it, I am really glad that we were able to help that man and his family. I see that the Boy Scout training we have had the past few years has been really valuable and I appreciate the efforts of our Scout leaders and the other guys in my troop. We worked together"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend this heroic action by a group of young Mississippi citizens:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and pay tribute to North Jackson Boy Scout Troop 302 and their fathers for their heroic action in risking their lives to rescue a man in the Alabama Sipsey Wilderness on January 20, 2013.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the members of Troop 302 and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
