2013-11-20
At the entrance to a memorial in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an engraving that reads, “Et Tid, Et Sted, En Menneske.” The English translation is, “One moment, one place, one person.” For Cynthia Field, that moment was June 21, 2013, at 3:07 p.m., the place was Cheat Lake and the person was Martin Lund Hansen. Here is her story:
“Martin was the older brother of my foreign exchange student, Kevin Mathias Holm Rupp, my ‘Danish son,’ who lived with my son A.J. and me for a year while he attended University High School during his senior year from 2011-2012. This experience forever forged two families into one, and when A.J. and I had the opportunity to spend nine days in Denmark this past March with Kevin and his family, it was then we met Martin. The bond was instant and in getting to know this remarkable young man, we came to find out that a dream of his was to be able to come to the United States, specifically to Morgantown. He had heard the stories and experiences his brother Kevin had shared, as well as the unbreakable bonds that were created. He arrived on June 18 and had been here less than three days when he lost his life in the backwaters of Cheat Lake.
“It is an agonizing realization when you feel so helpless in a situation such as this. When I arrived at the lake, I had to pass an entourage of flashing lights from EMS, State Police and fire trucks, yet no one was in the water. Recognizing a volunteer from the Cheat Lake Fire Department (CLFD), I ran up to him to see why there wasn’t a boat already out on the lake. The response I received is something I never expected. I was told that CLFD had no boat. They felt as helpless as I did.
“Among so many of the heartbreaking details of that day, from having my son and his friends diving frantically to try and save their Danish brother and not being able to, standing by Martin at his bedside along with my son when they stopped the machines and everything went deafeningly silent, the one that stands out the most is being told that his life might have been saved if he had been rescued in time.
“I am starting this memorial fund to help the CLFD raise money for the equipment and training they need for water related emergencies, as well as to bring awareness to this cause so that future tragedies can be prevented.
“I remember a conversation I had with Martin one night when I was in Denmark. Being on the brink of 20, I asked him if he knew what direction he wanted to take with his life, and he smiled as he paused to give it a moment of reflection. His answer was prophetic. ‘Well, Cynthia, I don’t have it all figured out just yet, but I DO know one thing. Whatever I do, I want my life to have meaning.’
“Through this fund, I want to honor his life, his memory, and his words as well as my family in Denmark.
“Everyone has countless, ‘One moment, One place, One person’ episodes that watermark their life. It is the united dream of our family that timely rescue opportunities be provided to every life, every day in an emergency situation where every moment counts.
How Can I Donate?
Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to contribute any amount of money to the Martin Lund Hansen fund managed by YCF. All donations will be used to help buy equipment for the Cheat Lake Fire Department and water rescue organizations in Monongalia County.
To make a donation, or to get more information, contact Your Community Foundation, P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507. Call us at (304) 296-3433 or visit our web site at www.ycfwv.org.