Shortly after attending his first Leadership Training Corps camp, my son bought an
alarm/megaphone.  I supposed he didn’t get enough of it while at camp.  He began using it to call
his brothers to a scenario. At all hours of the day the alarm would sound. The brothers would be
required to quickly meet him at the deck with their backpacks ready.  

Scenarios ranged from missing persons (a brother or sister laying out in the hayfield waiting
to be found by the searchers) to injuries (“broken” or “lacerated” legs or arms from various farm
accidents).  My daughters and I would answer the “9-1-1 call” which came into the house by
two-way radio.  We became experts at answering the call, listening to the emergency, recording
the details, and “dispatching the ambulance.”  

We all enjoyed the training, but little did we know that a real scenario would soon test our
family.  On May 3, 2022, I went into labor at home with our stillborn son Nathan.  Our daughter
was able to comfortably call 9-1-1 and was ready with all the details needed.  (As Colonel
Dagarin would say, her Reticular Activating System was functioning well.)  A disastrous
situation was handled quickly and efficiently, and my life, thank the Lord, was spared.  We are so
grateful not only for the training ALERT Cadet provided even for our daughters, but also for our
sweet son that we will one day hold again in heaven.

Submitted by Sarah Bongard