by Peter Twitchell
Sitting at the Ryan Air Terminal I was reminded of the Aniak “Dragon Slayers” – the Aniak High School kids who were trained by Pete Brown who was working at the Aniak Fire Department back in the 1990s. He taught high school girls and boys a trade which stayed with those students the rest of their lives.
These included IVs for emergency situations to save lives in today’s medical field.
Pete Brown’s Dragon Slayers members pursued and learned to provide a wide range of emergency services before or during transportation to a clinic or hospital. Many trained in medical services by becoming licensed technicians.
In these modern days this kind of training could enhance a young person’s life and livelihood and could open doors and opportunities for our young people who might otherwise never have the chance to learn in this field.
What Pete Brown did with the high school kids in Aniak enhanced and saved kids’ lives. Too many kids in our modern world have no sense of direction. Kids need positive role models to follow in life. The Aniak High School Dragon Slayers pursued an opportunity for one’s lifework or profession.
Today I have much more appreciation for what Aniak firefighter Pete Brown accomplished in kids lives. We need more Pete Browns in this day and age to give our kids a jumpstart in life.
