The Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City had the honors of hosting Miracle at Mount Baldy on August 28, 2013. This event honored all the first responders that helped to save young Nathan Woessner’s life after being engulfed in a massive sinkhole.
Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer welcomed the Woessner family back to Northwest Indiana and presented 135 certificates of appreciation to the first responders that went above and beyond to dig this little boy out from the sand.
Members of the Michigan City Fire Department, Police Department, EMS technicians, NIPSCO, St. Anthony’s Hospital, University of Chicago Hospitals, and Michigan City 911 operators were honored as heroes for the part they played in saving Nathan’s life that fateful day on Mount Baldy.
Jack Elia, Assistant General Manager at the Blue Chip Casino, stated that Boyd Gaming was delighted to help the Mayor honor these heroes. He said, “It’s a miracle that happened. This is such a great community that everyone is getting together here with all the responders.”
Angie Nelson from NIPSCO, who loaned their equipment to help dig Nathan out from under the sand, made a generous monetary donation to the Woessner family on behalf of the company and its employees. She also presented Nathan with a bag of toys, camouflage clothing, and a backpack full of school supplies.
Obviously touched by the situation, Nelson stated, “It was one of those days that you will never forget and we were glad to be a part of it.”
The presentation ended with the Nathan’s parents giving a heartfelt thank you to everyone for saving their young son. Gregory Woessner faced the audience with tears in his eyes stating, “He [Nathan] is alive because of the diligence and grace of your hands. I cannot thank you enough.” There was not a dry eye in the whole room afterwards.
Click here for more photos from the event, and check out the video slideshow that played during the event provided my Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek below!
Let us honor these heroes and what they did to save young Nathan Woessner:
Mark Swistek, Tim Richardson, Ken Havlin, Greg Radiger, Timothy Teska, Lendell Hood, John Kintzele, Jilian Ashley, Greg Jesse, Constantine J. Dillon, Mike Bremer, Bruce Rowe, Steve Chorba, Richard Eshenaur, William Tadych, Frank Quinto, Nathan Moreno, Chris Mengak, Karyn Matthews, Becca Canter, Gregg Honeycutt, Dan Morford, Joe James, Jim Whitemack, Brandon Ramirez, Evan Jones, Michael Grismer, Logan Scherschel, Jana Cram, Alexandra Olson, Rachael Steele, Terry Borolov, Julie McClure, Brian Schlender, Angie Nelson, Rich Elm, H. Barrett Fromme, Dana Suskind, Trisha Champagne, Kim Hebel, Kathleen Klunk, Phillip (Jason) Reeder, Bob Hayes, John Kearney, Gregory Woessner, Colin Karrow, Josh Zimmer, Dave Redepenning, Todd Bell, David Keen, Kenny Woodruff, Ryan Miller, Bobby Petrue, David Burke, Brandelle Rogers, Brian Menke, Jim Fish, Kannon Kigley, Albert Isbell, Alan Harvey, Ryan Doperlaski, Tobin Babcock, Timothy Radtke, David Hayden, Fran Tibbot, Josh Salono, Ricky Jackson, Tim Williamson, Tom Carlson, Willie Moore, Wally Bohlim, Mark Clouse, Dan Foster, Ken Osborne, Elmer (Buddy) Kasinger, Scott Erickson, Lisa Urbanski, Jason Albin, Michael Watkins, Pam Resenberger, Danielle Zukowski, Chad Williams, Diana Mitchell, Rachael Wolfson, Allison Clark, Beth Hirsley, Tess Moralde, Rachel Vann, Tom Yemc, Kyle Flanigan, Faith Woessner, Jeremy Van Gieson, Paige Young, Candice Sinclair, Torri Cazy, Sandra Rosales, Mandy Dorris, Ron Martin, Judd Rose, Darryl Westphal, Chris Furness, Dennis Wantland, Marcus Thompkins, Brian Smith, Jeff Peckat, Raymond Celebucki, Brad Kreighbaum, Anthony Stahoviak, William Roddy, Chris Kosakowski, Robert Schaffer, Robert Watkins, Robert Yates, James Young, Justin Hepker, Meil Malhotra, Lori Bridegroom, Jennifer Barnes, Jennifer Mrozinski, Lisa Scott, Rocky Kidd, Terry Decker, Amy Bayer, Sarah Ling, Lisa Bilderback, Tracy Koogler, Nadia Khan, Kerstin Stenson, Becky Broadwin, Katie Hamburger, Becky Jones, Kristen O’Block, Steve Espinoza, Curt Cipares, Dan Sells, Jacob E. Reul.