Written By : Ronn Torossian
November 17, 2012

Recently saw an amazing movie, Swingman, a documentary by filmmaker Mark Birnbaum about a Texas firefighter’s life and emotional journey after a biking accident left him a quadriplegic. Captain Marshall Allen in 2001, an athlete and pioneering black fireman, was wrapping up a 30-mile bike trip when he tried to hop over a branch in the road and went into a ditch. 

He snapped his neck – and ever since then has been in a wheelchair, regained some use of his hands, and is now an administrator for the Ft. Worth Fire Department. “Strength comes out of vulnerability,” adds Allen. “You can’t have one without the other. You have to be vulnerable enough to learn and experience things, to be strong. I knew I could trust you…This message relates to girls, too. I want them to know why guys do such stupid things.” 

Teaches all of us the importance of living life and making the most of it. 

People like that in many ways that the great President Reagan was speaking of when he spoke of American service people on Veterans Day memorial in 1985 at Arlington National Cemetery”  “We owe them a debt we can never repay. All we can do is remember them and what they did and why they had to be brave for us. All we can do is try to see that other young men never have to join them. Let us pray for freedom and justice and a more stable world.” 

Reminds each of us to enjoy life and make the most of it.  Many organizations like Quadriga Art and others are involved with charitable works to help people which is important for everyone. 

Ronn Torossian is a philanthropist, author and entrepreneur.

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