For one week in January...
Illustration
For one week in January 1925, the nation held its breath waiting to hear if a supply of life-saving serum would make it to Nome, Alaska, in time to save the town's 1,429 residents from a diphtheria epidemic. The inspiring story of the serum run, accomplished by mushers and sled dogs was recently memorialized by a Disney movie called Balto. The actual event involved scores of dogs and 20 men. Edgar Nollner was one of them.
He was only 20 years old when the call went out for dog sledders to form a relay from the railroad station at Nenana to the ice-bound city of Nome. Edgar had the tenth leg, 42 miles, which he eventually shared with his brother George. For 24 miles, from Whiskey point to Galena, Edgar and his dogs battled blinding snow. Thanks to men like Edgar Nollner and his fellow dog sledders, the serum arrived in time and within days, the epidemic was over. (New York Times, Sunday, January 24, 1999)
Edgar Nollner had the kind of unfailing courage and firm hope that Paul wishes for each of us.
He was only 20 years old when the call went out for dog sledders to form a relay from the railroad station at Nenana to the ice-bound city of Nome. Edgar had the tenth leg, 42 miles, which he eventually shared with his brother George. For 24 miles, from Whiskey point to Galena, Edgar and his dogs battled blinding snow. Thanks to men like Edgar Nollner and his fellow dog sledders, the serum arrived in time and within days, the epidemic was over. (New York Times, Sunday, January 24, 1999)
Edgar Nollner had the kind of unfailing courage and firm hope that Paul wishes for each of us.
