It was in June of 1995 that I began my new job. I got in the business
of reclamation. I worked with a few young men who were repeatedly
crashing into walls, people and mirrors. I “reclamated” them. So. What is reclamation? One young man is in The Army and stationed in Italy with his wife? One young man is in The Navy and lives near Chicago with his wife and baby girl
. Another is in The Illinois National Guard and now in Iraq.
One is in Korea and will be returning to The United States in March to complete
his enlistment at Fort Leonardwood. Another
is in his third year of college. A few others work their jobs everyday.
Sounds like a rewarding, pain free adventure for The Reclamator…right?
Not so. In the early years, there was one young man who liked to steal
when cornered. I lost two chain saws, a video camera and a few other
items before I realized the restoration process wasn't working. In
another case, I lost more than $2000. to an apparently successful young man
who was buying a car. Another young traveler plotted extortion and
an armed robbery. Another brought me into contact with several big time drug
dealers. And, still another asked for help and when I arrived, I too
was surrounded with police. Oh no, the price for saving lives was and
is high. 
Any parent will tell you, if their child is “off-track”, the family is
threatened with damage too. Of this total group of 15 young men, four are doing or did do prison time. One was charged with a Class “X” felony but the charge was waved in place of military service (he serves inThe military and is stationed in Iraq now). Two were Coke users. Several were involved in the distribution of illegal substances and theft.
A couple others were nightly heavy drinkers. Their only common ground
was the fact that they were all "losers" who had given up on themselves.Big rewards come at a high price. It is the nature of the game. If lives are to be saved and if reclamation is to occur, a price will sometimes have to be paid. Most folks won’t play that game. So, why in The Hell, would I?
Justin wrote me a letter. Click the photo, and I’ll share it with
you.
Rob wrote me a letter shortly before leaving for Italy. Click on
the photo.
Click on this photo for Sheighn’s thoughts he had shared with me.
My wife and I both have Navy pull-over sweat shirts and we prize them highly. On several occasions, when we were in trouble, all I needed to do was make one phone call. When new problems for these young adults arise, there is a knock at the door or the phone rings. But, I suspect the greatest reward is found in the new lifetime friends that we have made and youthful life styles that keep us alert, young and ready.
So, we end with the rewards that are phenomenal and the price that is extraordinary. It’s another example of one of life’s laws…great rewards come at a high price. I would not ask anyone to walk my walk but it was worth every minute of it and I have been highly rewarded.
The Reclamator