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Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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Heroes memorialized atop Mammoth Mountain |
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Sunday, 26 August 2007 |
Monument dedicated to Walter Rosenthal, Scott McAndrews and James Juarez
By Diane Eagle
Mammoth Times Staff
 MAMMOTH TIMES PHOTOS/LARA KIRKNER
“...We will forever be moved by the lives of these three patrollers,” Gregory continued, welcoming a gathering of more than 300 people to the dedication this past Saturday morning, Aug. 25, of a monument to Walter Rosenthal, Scott McAndrews and James Juarez.
Saturday morning dawned in a smokey haze from the Santa Barbara fire, the sun an enormous lozenge of red on the horizon. Friends, family and townspeople were handed flowers and sent to the summit on the gondola. Riding skyward, the mountain was wearing its brown coat, like an ermine. The fumerole to the south steamed slightly and sooty clouds ribboned off the sun. Looking toward Crowley lake, the valley looked like it was filling up with smoke.
Once at the top, we realized how close to the surface emotions were, waiting to ambush us as we walked out of the gondola and onto the pumice. People made their way to the monument about 100 yards distant, just past Climax above Hangman's Hollow. Some placed their flowers then, read the dedicatory plaques and moved away. The simple stacked stone monument was designed by Larry Walker and made possible by donations of many. When Rusty Gregory stepped forward, complete quiet stilled the mountaintop; the usually windy summit was calm.
“This is a bittersweet but special day,” he said. “It's dark in the valley, but the sun is on the mountain.”
He introduced Scotty McAndrews' father Briggs, who so eloquently gave words to what many were feeling. "There is no greater love than to give your life for a friend,” he said, observing that all three of the men had “the fire inside” that led them to this sacrifice, that of serving and loving their comrades. “They were committed to the mountains and to each other.”
In his heartfelt and beautiful words, he quoted Emily Dickinson: “We never know how high we are until we are called to rise.” The patrol did just that, McAndrews said.
“Scotty welcomed the opportunity to be on the mountain at each sunrise—each ski run a dance, a flight of the eagle into a gorge. Such is the wilderness and the mountains that drew him west.”
Caitlyn Takahashi, James Juarez's cousin, spoke of the things she loved about James—his joy, love, spirit, respect, passion and love of laughter. “This remembrance will stand on top of this mountain for time to come,” she said. “Memories help us gather our strength.”
Lily Rosenthal came forward to speak, her mother Lori at her side. She spoke so clearly and painfully about the loss of her father that not a single eye remained dry. “It's not fair, but life is not fair...it doesn't heal because that would mean the injury disappears, and it hasn't.”
Bobby Hoyt, head of MMSA Ski Patrol, made the dedication. It was short, clean and simple service that touched all who were there. We think it may have helped the families to see the outpouring of love people had for their sons and husbands.
Briggs McAndrews closed with a statement that summed up the dedication and the lives of the three men. “With our faces to the rising sun, we remember them. All that matters is what we do for each other; these three gave their lives and our many hearts have a single beat.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 10 September 2007 )
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Copyright © 2008 The Mammoth Times All Rights Reserved
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