Raising the flags for Bridgeday 2007     
Extreme Rappels idea for raising the flags for Bridgeday is an honor for all the men and women who serve to protect the honor and privileges of being an American.  The members of Extreme Rappels have been involved with Bridgeday since the late eighties and have seen the efforts and dedication it takes of a large group of federal, state and local authorities involving military personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other local individuals and businesses to make the event a safe and smoothly run festival every year.  Raising and lowering the colors for Bridgeday every year seems like a small privilege in the significance of the overall event, but one that Extreme Rappels feels honored to share with others.  This year we have chosen to honor some of the hidden talents which help make the Bridgeday rappelling run smoothly and safely, by highlighting two members of the Bridgeday Rappelling Safety Team; Berta Kirchman White and Tama Cassidy.
 
In raising the flags, Berta Kirchman will carry the US flag.  She is an active member of both the Chattanooga/Hamilton County (TN) Rescue Service – Cave, Cliff & Technical Team and the Huntsville (AL) Cave Rescue Unit.  She has been a sponsored athlete as a Vertical Specialist for Pigeon Mountain Industries Inc. (PMI), a leading manufacturer of life-safety ropes and equipment.  Berta has been involved with Bridgeday starting in 1982 and is the World Record Holder for rope climbing in the 120m category and holds several age group records in the 30m category. 
Joining Berta and carrying the WV flag, will be Mary Pat Jones a college student from Atlanta, Georgia.  Mary Pat is the granddaughter of MG (Ret.) Robert Q. Jones of White Sulphur Springs, WV, and Patty Board Jones of Charleston, WV.  Her dad, Robert Q. Jones, Jr., is originally from Charleston and is the group leader for this year’s “TAG Pit Crew” rappel team.  Mary Pat Jones has been involved with Bridgeday starting in 2002 and is the World Record Holder for rope climbing in two age groups of the 30m category. 
To complete the team we have Tama Cassidy and her daughter Kelly to close the event by lowering the flags on a tandem rappel.  Tama Cassidy and her daughter Kelly are both members of the National Speleological Society and have been horizontal and vertical cavers for eight years.  Tama and Kelly both contribute time and energy to cave conservation and have demonstrated their vertical experience in TAG, Mexico and at El Capitan. Tama is vice chairmen of the local chapter, the Dayton Underground Grotto. Kelly is a student at Wright State University and is studying sports medicine. 


To highlight the talents of four females who have each contributed in there own ways to the vertical community demonstrates some of the hidden talents and not so hidden talents of the rappelling communities.  Each in their own way, have helped mold and push the sport of rappelling which they live and love.  We appreciate their dedication, past, present and future, knowing the rappelling community could not be represented any better than with these four. 

The Raising and Lowering of the colors for Bridgeday is made possible by the sponsorship from American Flags & Poles of Marietta Ohio and Passages to Adventure of Fayetteville WV.
 

 


 
         
  US Flag Raising WV Flag Raising US Flag Lowering WV Flag Lowering
2005 Dr. Peter Hertl - Raleigh, NC Terry Zornes - Haw River, NC John Cadle - Mogadore, OH Terry Zornes - Haw River, NC
2006 Dr. Peter Hertl - Raleigh, NC Terry Zornes - Haw River, NC Mike Phelps - Newcomerstown, OH John Cadle - Mogadore, OH
2007 Berta Kirchman - Suwahnee, GA Mary Pat Jones - Atlanta, GA Tama Cassidy - Tipp City, OH Kelly Cassidy - Dayton, OH
2008