W.A.S. Wear A Seatbelt

07/13/2022

Been saying this for years. Please dont call them accidents. Most crashes are causes by someone’s negligence.

The tragic result of criminal and negligent acts are not "accidents."

Drunk, drugged, distracted, high-speed, and aggressive driving crashes are the predictable results of dangerous behaviors.

Let's stop calling them "accidents."

11/24/2021

HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELS ON THIS THANKSGIVING.
As always Wear A Seatbelt
Do not drink and drive. ...and Remember W***y.

06/20/2021

HE WASN’T THERE

Two weeks ago I saw pictures of a wedding on Facebook. It was the wedding of one of W***Y’s oldest and best friends. W***Y wasn’t there. He wouldn’t have missed it for the world. While looking through the pictures, there was one of his childhood friends from elementary school. W***Y wasn’t there. Many, many things have happened since the horrible day of June 20, 2009 when W***Y wasn’t here anymore. It was the day a drunk driver took his life. It was a day of bad decisions.

First he went to a party house. Then he drank. Then the mother of the hostess asked the boys to leave. Knowing there was one car, a drunk driver and four other boys, they were told to leave. Second, the driver should have never been driving if he had gone there to party. Third, W***y got into that car. Maybe he didn’t think he had any choice. Maybe he thought this time it would be ok to ride. No-one knows. What we do know is that these decisions cost him his life. W***y was every teen, full of life and excitement and looking toward the future.

Today is a big day full of new beginnings and celebrations. Today is Father’s Day, Today is West Virginia Day. Today is the first day of summer. Today is the day for celebrating anniversaries and graduations. June is a celebratory month. People get married in June. Youth graduate in June. June is a month of new beginnings. TODAY IS THE DAY THAT W***Y DIED.

Today is a day of sorrow for the Shuman family. The pain still fresh and the grief still palpable. Today is the day that joy was taken from our souls.

W***Y wasn’t at Paul’s wedding or in the picture with his childhood friends. W***Y was excited about his future of going to the United States Air Force Academy, of his goal to become a lawyer and a member of JAG in the Air Force. He wanted a family and kids. He wanted to live his life.

When you make a decision to party, to allowing teens to party in your house, to drink and drive, or to ride with a drunk driver, remember W***Y and his story. Is the risk worth the possible outcome? “It won’t happen to me,” you think. I can guarantee you that W***Y didn’t think it would happened to him either.

June is the month of new beginnings and celebrations. Do your best to be here for the Junes to come and the celebrations. Think of the consequences of the decisions you make.

And…as always, remember W***Y. Live a little of your life for him today. Do something extra nice for someone today. W***Y’s crooked little smile could light up a room. Think of him and smile a smile for him.

And…please remember him, for he WAS here.

WILLIAM ALBERT SHUMAN (WAS)
APRIL 20,1990-JUNE 20, 2009

06/02/2021

The tarp is off and the game is scheduled to start soon!

12/31/2020

Tonight is the most dangerous driving night of the year. Please do not drink and drive and as always, remember W***Y, WEAR A SEATBELT. Happy New Year to all

07/29/2020

The 11th Annual W***y Shuman Memorial Family Fun Night scheduled for August 23rd has been cancelled for this year because of the Coronavirus.
Everyone stay safe and healthy and we will see you next year.

06/20/2020

11 YEARS AGO. It was a Friday night that began like any other. W***y was going out with his friends. “Out of here,” he said as he went out to get in the car of a friend. That was the last time I would ever see him or hear his voice again. A few short hours later 2 policemen came to our door to tell us there had been a car crash and he didn’t make it. I can still hear those words in my head. Those few words started the beginning of a world that was forever changed.

Last night was also an ordinary Friday night. I was lying bed thinking about W***y and all that might have been. Would he be an Air Force Captain yet, and on his way in his USAF career. Would he be married and have children like his friends? Would he be enjoying life and bringing joy to all around him? These things will never be known. During this time I heard loud kids in the back of a truck on the street. I also heard loud cars going up and down. There was a teen party in the neighborhood.

When teens party in houses a lot of bad decisions are being made, and the consequences can be deadly. Driving drunk or riding with a drunk driver can have the worst outcome. Most of the time it does not, but are you willing to take the risk.

I would like to say to the parents: Is this a consequence that you are willing to take?

I would like to say to the teens who think they are invincible: Is this a consequence you are willing to take?

I’m sure the answer is NO. To lose a child or to cause the death of another’s child is not worth the risk. Also by letting teens party in your house is condoning the use of alcohol. No teenager would say that yes the risk is worth it. All teens, like W***y, have hopes and dreams. Dreams they don’t want to see ended as a teenager.

To the parents on my street, and all other parents who condone this behavior, I say think of the consequences. Think of W***y. Think of what could have been.

Also, I would like to ask you to do something nice for someone today, live a little of your life for him today, and smile a smile for him. AND always remember to wear a seatbelt

11 YEARS AGO and forever.

05/21/2020

May 21, 2009, 11 years years ago on a Thursday night, not unlike this Thursday tonight, W***y Shuman graduated from high school. He spoke at graduation about the hopes and dreams for the future. As he began his journey in life, he was excited about his future. He was looking forward to all that life would bring, and he would begin to enjoy the rewards for all of his hard work. He was going to The United States Air Force Academy. He was going to play Division 1 tennis there. He hope to make a career in the Air Force, go to law school, and become a member of JAG. He had the world by the tail. His journey lasted 4 weeks. He was killed by a drunk driver and he was not wearing a seatbelt. NO MORE DREAMS FOR W***Y. No more realizing the joy of moving forward in his life. All killed by a night of bad decisions.

The Class of 2020 is the same in many ways, yet so different. While the fun of graduation night, prom, last day of school, graduation parties, senior trips were not an option for the class of 2020, the dreams and hopes are still the same.

Go forth with your life as a senior would any other year. The hopes and dreams for the journey of life are still the same. Only the pomp and fun are missing. When tomorrow comes the future will be the same with or without the actual graduation ceremony. The disappointment is real, but so is the future.

W***y’s future lasted 4 weeks. A night of bad decisions ended his life, his dreams and his future. Made sure this is not you. Any one of you could be W***y. With the decisions you make, try to make sure that your journey has a happy ending. W***y’s classmates have moved on without him. They are nearing 30 and pursuing their goals in life. W***y is forever 19 and never had the chance.

W***y ended his graduation speech by saying, “To the Class of 2009, I wish nothing but the best." TO THE CLASS OF 2020, I WISH NOTHING BUT THE BEST. Go forward and live your best life. Take care of yourself to make sure, to the best of your ability, that you lead a long and happy life. REMEMBER W***Y.. Think of him, think of his story, life a little of your life for him, and smile a smile for him. Through these trying times, make the class of 2020 the best class ever. BEST OF LUCK.