Electric Lineman is a Hero By Mistie Fairchild

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We owe our freedom to the brave soldiers who have defended us through the years since this country was born, but we owe our comfort and convenience to the heroes few people even think about.

Those are the highly skilled power linemen (and women) who build and maintain the power systems that make it possible for me to share this thought with you today - via the Internet. Without their hard work and dedication all those conveniences we take for granted would be useless.

Not only would we not be able to communicate electronically, there'd be no TV, no dishwasher, and no elevator to take us to the 100th floor of a high-rise. We may admire Abe Lincoln for reading and studying by candle-light, but I think we're all happy that we don't have to do it ourselves!

Unless you know a lineman well, you might not think about the reason why your lights might pop back on at 2:30 a.m. after a storm-induced power outage. It's because those crews are out there, working through the night to bring "power back to the people." They don't go home at 5 p.m. - they keep working round the clock until the job is finished, and it doesn't matter if the sun is scorching or their helmets are coated with ice in sub-zero temperatures.

But still, few think of them as heroes. At least they didn't until January 23 when Journeyman Lineman Victor Vana of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative successfully rescued two Texas Army National Guard Paratroopers.

The paratroopers had been blown off course and had landed in two separate trees - each hanging 30 to 40 feet off the ground. Vana, who was driving a bucket truck when he got the call, was able to bring them down. Although all linemen are trained in emergency rescue methods, Vana said this was the first time in 16 years as a lineman that he'd had to use that training.

For his actions in this rescue, Vana received an award and recognition from the Bastrop Fire Department. Fire Chief Henry Perry said that this was only the 3rd or 4th time in 15 years that such an award had been given.

Mistie Fairchild is a staff writer for Pantex Energy. Pantex Energy provides Texas Electricity Service for the entire deregulated area of the State of Texas. Contact us for the lowest commercial electricity rates in Texas.

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