Do You Believe In Miracles?
Feb 11th, 2010 by andreaharris
This Friday, February 12 marks the Vancouver Olympic XXI Opening Ceremony and the 30th anniversary of the XIII Olympic Winter Games held in Lake Placid, New York.
Many of you know me as an artist but only a few may know that I was one of 52 torchbearers selected to carry the Olympic Flame from Yorktown, Virginia to Lake Placid, New York. This particular torch relay journey was a first in the history of the Modern Games and continues to be the only torch relay team that ran as a team from the start of the relay (Yorktown) to the arrival in Lake Placid.
Team members fondly refer to the 9-day relay that was over 1,600 kilometers as “miles of smiles.” There were spectators every step of the way, along rural roads and in cities– adults and children with the look of awe and anticipation.
Here is our group of 52 torchbearers. I am in the first row, second from the right:
It is impossible to describe the solitude of running along country roads and the giddiness of turning a corner to find throngs of people. Or to run through cities such as Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia and find what seemed like the whole world “cheering on” the flame.
But the greatest thrill was standing inside the Olympic Stadium as we watched our fellow torchbearer, Charles M. Kerr, light the flame that began the XIII Olympic Winter Games. As we stood beside the Olympic caldron and doves were released, the ceremony was breathtaking.
Our torchbearer duties did not end with the lighting of the flame. Every evening we participated in the award ceremonies and lined the red carpet on frozen Mirror Lake while the medals were given to the athletes that competed that particular day.
And yes, we had the opportunity to see all the events, including Eric Heiden’s monumental capture of 5 gold medals and 4 Olympic speed skating records. And who can ever forget the 1980 “Miracle” American Hockey Team? I was there. I saw the game. I met the team and congratulated them as they received their medals.
Our torch relay team became the “darlings” of Lake Placid. We were chosen to exemplify “the Greek ideal of the whole person’ and the spirit of the Olympics. The Village of Lake Placid and Olympic tourists connected with our contagious enthusiasm during a time when the world was shaken with concerns not unlike those of today.
The miracle of the 1980 Winter Olympics remains today. A team that was hand-picked to signify unity and the Olympic Spirit remains as a family. We have laughed together, shared family joys and tragedies, become parents and grandparents, and cried together. Sadly, we have said “so long” to five fellow torchbearers.
Here is a photo taken in 2002, at the Torchbearer reunion and re-lighting of the Olympic Flame. I am in the center with the torch. It was snowing.
On February 13, 2010 the caldron in Lake Placid will once again be ignited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Winter Olympics and to honor the torchbearers who have passed on.
Do YOU believe in miracles? I do.
For events and other information on the 30th anniversary of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics see:
- LakePlacidNews.com
- The Rev. J. Bernard Fell Olympic Torch Restoration Committee website
- “Small Town, Big Dreams: Lake Placid’s Olympic Story” — DVD of documentary and broadcast on PBS in February 2010.
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Photos provided courtesy of the official 1980 Olympic Torch Relay Web Site and Bev Johnson.