Congratulations Greensburg Class of 2008!

Our congratulations to the Greensburg High School Class of 2008!

Fat Cat Productions was absolutely honored to be back to help the students celebrate yesterday! We first were introduced to the town of Greensburg not through our production business but by responding to the aftermath of the F5 tornado 1 year ago. I had trained my Australian Shepherd, Clarice, for 6 years prior to respond to disasters and search for missing people. When we drove into town it was a little bit different than other tornado damage I had searched in years prior with another search dog, it was like everyone said on the news and worse: the town was pretty much gone.

A gut wrenching eerie feeling came over me while we searched, climbing and walking all over people's belongings who were ordered to evacuate out of their homes. Rici came back a second day to search with a fellow teammate while I flew to the West Coast for a film class.

About a month after the tornado we were contacted by our area Disc Jockey Association, the ADJA, and Ron Brown, asking if we were available to come and film the High School Graduation for the '07 graduates. They weren't about to let the tornado rob them of the day they had looked so forward to for 4 years. So many people came together from Greensburg and surrounding communities to make the day special for them. Even though the graduation ceremony was held under a tent, they made the best of it and were honored with a commencement speech by the Lt. Governor and Senator Pat Roberts; addressing each student personally. Rumors were running about the President coming to speak but he was unable to attend.

After living in the local and national spotlight for a year with multiple media outlets covering their every move on the Green rebuilding process, last years Juniors, now the Class of '08, were once again in the spotlight for Graduation actually on the 1-year Anniversary of the F5 tornado. Only this year, they had a very special guest- The 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Fat Cat was asked for the second year to film the Graduation procedings and very honored to do so with such a special guest in attendance for the graduates! I was excited, nervous, and humbled to be granted special access to a "buffer zone" near the Presidential podium at which the students and the President spoke. I shared floor space with national and local press getting some incredible angles for the students DVD's! Crouching low with about 15 other people on our hands and knees and shooting handheld for an hour and a half, making my hand go completely numb a few times trying to hold a steady shot, I ache more than any 12-hour long wedding day! But I couldn't quit, for the students. No pain, no gain :)

The Secret Service and White House Staff were very gracious and accomodating in helping us however they could. It was a very educational experience to say the least in setting up and gaining proper clearances, etc. and I learned alot. It was also quite exciting to be about 10 feet from the President of the United States and a special priviledge I won't soon forget. I'm sure not near as exciting as it was for the students who shared his stage, spoke from his podium, met him, shook his hand and received their much deserved diplomas from him personally. What an incredible day for them they will never forget!

Congratulations Class of 2008 and best of luck to you where ever your dreams may take you!

Enjoy the photos until we can post video later of the event here in the blog when the DVD is complete so check back soon! The photo to the left is actual footage from Fat Cat and my "shot" of the President. Yes, I actually was that close! By the way, Secret Service doesn't like it when you use the word "shot" around the President :)

The other photos are Clarice searching the tornado debris last year, me with one of the White House Staff with my pin and of course at the top, the Commander-in-Chief, President Bush.