HOLLY and WAYNE - Farmington NM



Wayne, Tate, Ryder, Choice, Juliann, Shiloh, and Holly

Ryder, Shiloh, Choice, Juliann, and Tate

We made our way to Farmington, New Mexico, my stepdad's hometown.  Farmington has always been home to special people in our lives, and we were blessed to spend the day with two of them.



Wayne and Holly

Wayne and Holly have a remarkably unique love story.  It is one worth telling, and I am not the first to feel that way.  As a matter of fact, the links below are two authors' renditions of these events...


http://ravallirepublic.com/news/article_1822dea0-242c-5e31-b855-583d810b0719.html

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/couple-finds-love-along-the-fire-line/article_3b16295d-fa29-5906-8a87-a583ad58d017.html



Wayne

Wayne was born and raised in New Zealand.  He worked in the timber industry as a master sawyer.  When he moved to the states, he began working with the forest service as a specialist in cutting down trees that took exceptional skill and training.  He would work with Hotshot crews in fighting wildfires and in their fire prevention efforts.  This is how he met the love of his life...

Holly

Holly was a wildland firefighter for twelve years.  She is an unbelievably strong, determined, ambitious, and highly capable woman.  In an incredible twist of fate, Wayne and Holly met on an assignment fighting wildfire.  They met, sparks flew (pun totally intended), and so began their love for one another and their life together.  They are quite the dynamic duo.



Wayne and Holly

Holly and Wayne share so many interests, and many of their hobbies are also things my children enjoy, especially Ryder.  He was in heaven as he followed Wayne around their yard discussing their unbelievable rock collection.  



Ryder and Wayne

Ryder and Holly

Collecting rocks has been a meaningful past time in Ryder's life.  It is an activity that he shared with his Dad.  Andrew would pick up a rock on each fire he went on as part of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew and bring it home to Ryder.  It was a memory for him of the various fires he went on, and it gave Ryder something to look forward to each time that he watched his Daddy leave for another long work trip.  When we received Andrew's belongings after he lost his life in Yarnell, a beautiful gift for Ryder was found in the side pocket of his pack...a rock from the Yarnell Hill Fire that his Dad had picked out just for him before he passed away.  Ryder's Uncle T.J. (Andrew's big brother) presented that rock to Ryder just as his Daddy would have if he were here.  A cherished moment in Ryder's life. 

 

Ryder and Uncle T.J.



All of the kids were excited for Rock Hunting at the Neill home. Wayne and Holly explained to them what kind of rocks they were finding and walked all around the property with them.



Ryder, Tate, Shiloh, and Choice

Ryder, Tate, and Shiloh



Tate, Holly, Shiloh, and Ryder



They even allowed each of the kids to pick a rock of their choosing to bring home with them...



Choice



Tate



Shiloh



Ryder

Holly, Choice, Tate, Shiloh, and Ryder

Throughout the years, Holly and Wayne have been closely associated with several incidents involving wildland firefighting fatalities.  They have lost brothers amidst the blaze and have been affected by the grief that follows such a tragedy.  Storm King was among those fires, and afterwards, Holly and Wayne reached out and took an active role in assisting the families of those who were lost.  Likewise, they immediately became involved when they learned that our men died on June 30, 2013.

Since that time, and throughout the past two years, Holly and Wayne have been completely engaged and committed to finding the truth.  Holly told me that there hasn't been a single day since the Incident Report was released with the initial "findings" that she hasn't been researching all of our unanswered questions.  With their knowledge of fire behavior, the operations and procedures on a fire line, the dynamics of a hotshot crew, and the purpose of incident command, they have expert knowledge in areas that others of us did not.  At a time when the family members who were seeking the truth were solely carrying the weight of sorting through all the cover-ups and deceit, and being overcome with desire for understanding, Holly and Wayne offered a much needed helping hand. 



Holly at the Deployment Site - Yarnell

Holly has walked the path taken by our own GMIHC in Yarnell, over and over again...taking note of anything that may lead to a better understanding of the events that took place there that fateful day.  She has been a beacon of hope that the truth will unravel as she has uncovered many pieces of information that have already assisted in more closure and more healing for our family.  Because of the immense work Holly and Wayne have put into discovering the truth, I believe that one day I will be able to tell my children the facts about what happened to their Daddy and his 18 friends and why they didn't come home to us.

Holly allowed me to pick at her brain and ask countless questions during our visit.  Without fail, I feel empowered, hopeful, and a sense of peace whenever I speak to her.  She is a true blessing and a dear friend.

 

Holly and Juliann



Juliann, Choice, and Holly



We had a wonderful day with Holly and Wayne.  There were so many special little memorable moments that we will take with us on our journey.  For Shiloh, she was thrilled that their cat shares the same name as her!!



Shiloh (the kitty) and Shiloh

For all of us, it was a blessing to share the day among friends.  Our stop was short but very impactful.  New Mexico isn't that far from home so they may have many more future visits from this crazy group.  Thanks again Holly and Wayne, for the countless hours you have put into assisting our family.  Continue your good work and Spread The Better!


Tate, Juliann, Ryder, Wayne, Choice, Holly, and Shiloh