DECEMBER 10, 2009 ISSUE
82nd Airborne Helps Open Beech Mountain Resort
Soldiers Spend Fun Day on Slopes Before Leaving for War
Beech Mountain Resort is now open for the 2009-10 winter snowsport season, and the first group to hit the slopes of Ski Beech was the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, who took a special trip to the mountain last weekend. According to Ski Beech’s John Costin, an official with the group of soldiers said the division would be deployed within the next 10 days to go behind enemy lines and that the trip was their last before traveling overseas.
Costin and his staff were impressed with the maturity and courtesy of the group of soldiers, which included many couples serving together in the division. The couples were listening to a chaplain offer relationship advice when Costin asked the group to pose for the above photo.
After the photo, one of the soldiers kept addressing Costin as “Sir,” which Costin saw as ironic. “Here he was calling me ‘sir,’ and he’s the one that’s a hero, not me,” said Costin.
The group thoroughly enjoyed the three inches of snow that fell on Ski Beech last weekend and all had a fun time, but Costin still wishes he could have done more.
“I wish that everyone in Watauga and Avery counties could have been there to shake all of their hands,” said Costin. “Seeing and meeting them made me feel good to be an American.”
Photo submitted
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