Hello,
This letter is in reference to my cousin, if you know or not- he just passed, while saving 5 lives.
We are attempting a chain to produce enough signatures to make an impact.
To nominate Ed Ristaino to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal.
An updated link version for those who do not have face book.
Please Read COPY and forward to people you know.
Please Read COPY and forward to people you know.
We broke 1,000 mark today.
We are attempting to get 5,000 signatures or more for Ed Ristaino to receive the Presidential Citizens Award for saving the lives of 5 sky divers at the cost of his own. Please sign and pass around.
You will have to copy the email to get the link to work if you forward to others.To forward the link to others you have to copy the email not just forward the email.
There are two links one for face book members, and one for those who are not.
The rest of the letter is the accounts of the accident, I am in great hope you will help us.
Thank you for your time-
miChelle M. Vara and Dominick Ristaino
Sign and pass around (Facebook members).
Here is the a link that will work without being on Facebook.
Written by the Dan Eaton a Skydiver who exited the balloon and landed safely. A two time Bronze Star Winner while serving in the US Army.
I come to you to nominate Ed Ristaino to receive the Presidential Citizens medal
The following is a AAR of events on 16 MAR 2012 Fitzgerald Georgia.
Ed Ristaino while supporting Airborne operations in conjunction with a festival being held in Fitzgerald Georgia, distinguished himself by extraordinary meritorious service in saving the lives of 5 skydivers who boarded his hot air balloon for a evening jump.
He consistently manifested exemplary professionalism and initiative in obtaining outstanding results. His rapid assessment and solution to numerous problems greatly enhanced our chances of survival. Despite many adversities and under the harshest conditions, he consistently performed his duties in a resolute and efficient manner. Enthusiastically applying his sound judgment and extensive knowledge, he sacrificed his life so that others may live. His loyalty, diligence and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Presidential citizen's medal and reflect great credit upon himself and as a United States citizen.
I hope you will take this in to consideration this man is a hero!
Sincerely
Dan Eaton
6511 reservoir rd
Appling Ga. 30802
I am one of the skydivers in his balloon that day whose life he saved . Another 30 seconds , and my daughter and I would have had to say in the balloon and ride it out with him . He took us up another 1000 feet so we could reach a field on the ground , knowing the clouds were seconds away and nothing but forest in front of him . He made sure we all got out safe . Before we reached the ground , he was already in the clouds . We owe our lives to Ed . He knew he was in trouble but kept his cool and made sure we were going to be safe . This was my third year riding with Ed. I keep running threw my head , what could we have done different that day . But without a doubt , he put our lives before his . And I have the video to prove it . And that video will never be shown to anyone . I have turned down every news channel and morning show . All offering big money for my video . Ed saved all of us that day. I will never forget those last minutes before we left him all alone by himself . He will be in my heart forever .
Ed Ristaino's actions that day were indeed heroic and selfless. Even during one of his last transmissions, he apologized to his crew because he was afraid he wasn't going to make it. But that's the kind of man Ed was.
Ed used his expertise as a pilot and calmly, but quickly took actions he knew would save the life of the five passenger skydivers after this fluke of a storm came into play. He went up further to insure their safety as they jumped in case something happened and took every action possible to save them. And even in his final moments his thoughts were of his crew and what they would experience.
A fabulous hot air balloon pilot, a man that so obviously loved his family and friends, he loved doing things for others and sharing the joys he had in life with them. One of the many instances I witnessed involved Ed taking a young lady with cerebal palsy, severe physical limitations and bound to a wheel chair up in his special shape balloon. She had been around ballooning for many years with her family but this was her first flight. What a joy to see Ed make the special preparations to insure her safety as well as a pleasurable flight, his interaction with her, and the beauty of seeing "Normie" float into the sky with a very special passenger and piloted by a very special gentleman...simply amazing. And that's the kind of man Ed was
My friend and I were the last 2 people to jump from the hot air balloon that Ed was piloting just moments before he lost his life. Ed was a very kind, friendly, courageous man who put our lives before his own.
Ed saved my family that day, two of them were among the five in the balloon. Two years before, we were all at that same festival where he took us all on our first balloon ride. Not an experienced skydiver, I didn't jump. Instead I took a joy ride with Ed and got to watch as the skydivers jumped, ascending to earth before we too made the trip back down. I will never forget that balloon ride. He was a wonderfully kind man, and no doubt a hero.
