Praying for Jon Martin

Praying for Jon
Commentary by KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
I’ve never taken the athletes I cover for granted.
From the first sporting event I ever covered -- a football game pitting the Bellevue Redmen against the Bucyrus Redmen some 16 years ago -- to today, I’ve always had an admiration and appreciation for all student-athletes.
I’ve grown close to quite a few, and call some my best friends to this day.
That’s why when tragedies strike, it hits me so hard.
I’ve dealt with untimely deaths before, from a suicide to a motorcycle crash to a car accident that have taken student-athletes, my friends, too soon.
I was reminded again Thursday just how fragile life can be.
That we should cherish each and every day.
Staff Sgt. Jon Martin is one of the first athletes I covered when I got into the sports writing profession. He was a superb cross country and track athlete for the Bellevue Redmen.
Jon was a leader and a classy guy.
It came as no surprise to me when I heard he was joining the military.
It did come as a surprise, and hit me like a ton of bricks, when I found out Jon, a 1993 graduate of Bellevue High School, was severely injured by a roadside bomb Nov. 9 while serving his country in Iraq.
Jon, who continued to run after high school as he took up marathons, cruelly lost his left leg by amputation caused by the blast.
He also had to have his spleen removed, while suffering a broken arm, pelvis and punctured lung.
Jon, in a medically-induced coma, is now in Germany fighting for his life. He’s on a dialysis machine because of failing kidneys, along with a ventilator.
Jon, who is a platoon leader for the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Ky., worked in air assault.
The tragedy hit harder when I read that Jon now has three young children -- Alaina, 8; Allie, 5; and Trenton, 10 months, counting on him.
Jon’s sister, Heather, married a good friend, Brad Bollinger, who is among the top three greatest male athletes I’ve ever covered.
Brad’s sister, Amber, is the best female athlete I’ve covered.
They’re strong physically and emotionally and I know they’ll be strong for the Martin family during this trying time.
And I know Jon will be strong, too.
I’m hoping and praying Jon recovers and does so quickly.
I can still picture Jon running through the woods leading the pack in his sweaty red uniform. And that’s the way I’ll remember him, being in charge and leading the way.
Donations can be sent to the Jon Martin Fund at First National Bank of Bellevue, 120 North St., Bellevue, Ohio, 44811, or call 419-483-7340.
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Kevin Travis is the sports editor of the Washington Daily News. You may reach him at 940-4217, or by e-mail at Kevin@wdnweb.com. You may also view his blog, KT’s Take On Sports, at http://wdnsports.blogspot.com.