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South Dakota National Guard
For Immediate Release: January 15, 2002
For More Information: Maj. Mark Johnston, 737-6721
SD National Guard soldier a true “torch bearer”
RAPID CITY - Ron Larson’s life has been full of challenges. But last Thursday, the only challenge he faced was holding back emotion while carrying the Olympic torch along Third Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Larson, a combat engineer team leader with Company A, 153rd Engineer Battalion in Wagner, South Dakota, was one of 11,500 people selected to participate in the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.
The event, sponsored by Chevrolet and Coca-Cola, recognizes individuals who were nominated for significant contributions to their family, community or nation. The relay will travel over 13,000 miles through 46 states (South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Hawaii were conspicuously omitted.) Along the way the torch will stop in over 100 cities. The city-stops include the fanfare expected for such a monumental event such as the Olympics.
“As long as I have known Ron, he was always happy. He never had a bad day.” Said Major Bill Freidel, Executive Officer of the 153rd and classmate of Larson at Armour High School.
Ron feels that his story isn’t that special. That didn’t keep his sister, Pam McMahon of Gillette, Wyo, from nominating him. Ron and Jena’s 13 year-old son Shane summed up how he felt about his dad participating in the Olympic Torch Relay. “It was really cool.”
When the cancer developed in his body, Larson knew something wasn’t right. He had a pain in his abdomen that wouldn’t go away. The pain got to be so intense that while playing golf one afternoon, he couldn’t swing his club. At that point, he decided to go to the doctor. The following day, it was discovered that he had a testicular mass and was referred to a doctor in Sioux Falls. A follow-up appointment proved that he had testicular cancer.
Instead of fretting over it, Ron knew that he and his wife, Jena had to address the problem right away. Ron had the tumor removed a week later. The surgery and follow-on chemotherapy removed the cancer from his body, and he has been given a clean bill of health every year since. Ron’s attitude and outlook on life were the driving force getting through the cancer.
“It was the greatest challenge we have ever faced,” said Larson, though he keeps it in perspective. “In talking with other torch bearers these last couple of days, my cancer pales in comparison to some of the things the other runners have had to deal with.”
Chevrolet and Coca-Cola have developed a travelling “pep rally” for the Olympics. The event in Council Bluffs, was a true expression of “flag waving, band playing” small-town Americana. From vehicles, to uniforms and big-screens to videos, the excitement that is generated when the venue travels into a city gives a “community-driven” feeling that is part of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.
For Ron and each of the carriers, their segment of the relay was a short distance. “Two-tenths of a mile went by very fast, said Larson. “I felt very patriotic, proud, warm. It was very emotionally uplifting, I have never felt that good.”
Along his designated route people were cheering, clapping, and waving flags. Friends, family and well wishers, many who had no idea who he was, offered encouragement. That is the great thing about the relay. Everyone has a story to tell. Of the hundreds of thousands who were nominated for the relay, only eleven thousand five hundred were selected. Of the total, four thousand were “celebrities” like former New York Mayor Rudy Gulliani, and Kurt Warner, the NFL’s MVP.
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