"MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minnesota teen's dying wish touched hearts around the world. And, his love for a little car inspired a massive outpouring of support.
Now, nearly a year later, the story that moved so many just added a new chapter.
Join us Thursday night for KARE 11 News at 10 p.m., as the Fieros return to Frazee to celebrate Tyler Shipman's legacy. "
IP: Logged
04:51 PM
DIY_Stu Member
Posts: 2337 From: Republic of TX Registered: Jun 2007
"MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minnesota teen's dying wish touched hearts around the world. And, his love for a little car inspired a massive outpouring of support.
Now, nearly a year later, the story that moved so many just added a new chapter.
Join us Thursday night for KARE 11 News at 10 p.m., as the Fieros return to Frazee to celebrate Tyler Shipman's legacy. "
That gave me chills just hearing that, just because of how true it is. Boyd really must be THE best reporter I have ever met.
That gave me chills just hearing that, just because of how true it is. Boyd really must be THE best reporter I have ever met.
Yeah, he's been at Kare11 for a number of years and he's been doing series called a 'Land of 10000 stories a while now. They are ALWAYS interesting and informative. When ever one of his stories are coming on I make sure to watch it. He's been my favorite reporter for years.
Doug
IP: Logged
10:35 PM
DIY_Stu Member
Posts: 2337 From: Republic of TX Registered: Jun 2007
Wow, what an awesome segment!! Boyd did an amazing job! It was fun for me to see some of the guys in the original footage that I met at Camp Shipman! I am already looking forward to 2011!
IP: Logged
11:31 PM
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
News article, posted below from the KARE11 site. Will post video, almost done editing the weather/extra crap out.
FRAZEE, Minn. -- Airport welcomes take on special significance when the arriving party is a soldier recently back from Iraq.
But when two red Pontiac Fieros pulled to the curb, Sgt. Andrew Wiegle and his wife Stephanie could not have been happier with a pair of stretch limos. "It's a very good welcome," smiled Sgt. Weigle. "I don't think I've ever had a best welcome than this."
Not far from the airport, the two Fieros became four. And by the time the growing convoy passed through St. Cloud, those four Fieros had been joined by 25 more.
"I'm overwhelmed. I've never seen this many Fieros in one caravan," said Weigle from behind the wheel of a borrowed Fiero. "I've never seen so many people come together for one cause."
The cause, launched from Iraq last fall by the National Guard sergeant from Pennsylvania, started with an internet post from Tyler Shipman, a high school senior from Frazee, Minnesota, with a ragged 23-year-old Fiero and just a few months to live.
"I'm trying to find someway to get it restored before I'm gone," he wrote on a Fiero forum.
Weigle read the post from his base in Iraq and thought to himself, "What if that was my child. What if that was my kid that had cancer. 18 years old is way too young to leave this earth without achieving one of your dreams."
What happened next is now part of both Frazee and Fiero lore. Urged on by Wiegel online from Iraq, last November, two dozen Fiero owners from across the country descended on Frazee with thousands of dollars in donated parts. 24 hours later Tyler climbed into his newly restored car.
"There's no words to describe what it means," said Tyler's mom Daneele Shipman at the time, as she fought back tears.
Tyler's parents' hearts were touched ten weeks before they were broken. Tyler passed away on Valentine's Day of 2010. His classmates filled the high school gym for his funeral. Then Tyler was laid to rest in a country cemetery not far from the Shipman home.
The kindness of the Fiero owners was not about to be forgotten in Tyler's hometown. Nine months after Tyler's final wish was granted, a fire truck welcome greeted the convoy of Fieros as Frazee and the Shipmans welcomed back their angels.
"Wow look at that. A Fiero traffic jam," laughed Daneele as she and husband Jay greeted the Fiero owners turning into their driveway. "I always used to give him crap and tell him to get his Fiero off the lawn so I could mow the grass," said Daneele as she admired a backyard, turned parking lot. "He's probably laughing right now."
Minutes later she sought out and hugged Sgt. Weigle, who she met in person for the very first time.
If the weekend had ended right there, in the Shipman backyard, no one would have left disappointed. But to be a Fiero fan in Frazee was about to hit fifth gear.
The following morning 50 Fieros and assorted other cars filled Frazee's Main Street for 1st Annual Tyler Shipman Memorial car show, organized by the same Fiero owners who restored Tyler's car.
Tyler's yellow '86 Fiero may have traveled the shortest distance, but it was the biggest attraction of them all.
Standing nearby was Tyler's 10-year-old brother Carter, who on Tyler's instructions will be handed the keys to the Fiero when he turns 18. Tyler placed one stipulation on the ownership transfer. Carter must not misbehave. "But I won't," he promised. " I'll be good."
Tyler had a little sister too. And it was just like her big brother to worry that nine-year-old Cassy might feel left out. "So he got her a Fiero before he passed away too," explained Daneele about the red two-seater sitting next to Tyler's yellow Fiero.
Given all Tyler's car has come to represent, the car show's "people's choice" award carried not a hint of suspense. Carter smiled ear to ear as he gripped a trophy nearly as tall as he was.
Nor was anyone shocked by the long line of Fieros chosen to lead the way for this year's Turkey Days parade. "From one e-mail, that's the crazy thing," said Tyler's mom.
One internet posting from a Minnesota teen, that was read by a soldier on the other side of the globe who couldn't allow a dying wish to go ungranted.
"This wasn't just an accident. This happened for a reason," said Weigle as he and his wife released two yellow balloons near Tyler's grave.
Near the end of Tyler's struggle, his parents had parked his Fiero on the front yard where he could see it from his bed through the living room window.
Tyler passed away three months shy of his high school graduation. "We're all thinking about him, and everybody's here," said Daneele. "So this is his graduation party."
Daneele and Jay Shipman are not lacking for comforting symbols. No one missed the rainbow that hung over Tyler's car an hour after the Fiero owners arrived at the tail end of a rain shower.
"I see rainbows a lot over in that direction," said Daneele pointing toward the cemetery. She surveyed the cars in her yard and their owners pitching tents for the weekend. "When you can find things like this, I feel him."
IP: Logged
11:44 PM
Sep 24th, 2010
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
Not the point Stu... Youtube is wide open for almost everyone... Many news site videos are blocked at work.. And you can't direct link the video. Youtube uploaded, and still processing. Should be done soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn6DLpe8xNE
After watching that video, it is really amazing that I was actually there and part of it all, even if I wasn't there at the actual build. Next year, my fiero will be there.
[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 09-24-2010).]
IP: Logged
12:24 AM
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
After watching that video, it is really amazing that I was actually there and part of it all, even if I wasn't there at the actual build. Next year, my fiero will be there.
I am glad you and your mother made it up. What a way to get involved in the community! I look forward to seeing you guys there next year with two Fieros. Your's, and your mom's! lol
IP: Logged
12:30 AM
RAREW66 Member
Posts: 1119 From: Davenport, IA USA Registered: Jun 2001
I found a Walky radio in my car Tuesday. I had no idea who's it was. Still charged and all. Now I know who's it was. I think it's GTGeff's Andy is holding one just like it in the video.
[This message has been edited by DIY_Stu (edited 09-24-2010).]
IP: Logged
01:35 AM
Genopsyde Member
Posts: 774 From: Willoughby, Ohio USA Registered: Dec 2007
Wow, a very nice video that does a great job of summing it all up. It was nice to get to see all the cars roll in to the Shipman's in the Video, as some of us were running a little late due to a break down and missed that. Police and fire truck escort, wow, that's pretty cool!
Boyd and Johnathon did an amazing job on the story for sure.
I thought the KARE11 story was awesome, it brought tears back to my eyes again. Boyd, you are a great reporter! What a great job that everyone did for Tyler, he will live on through the rest of us forever. You rock Tyler!!!
video was awesome. its easy to see why Boyd and Jonathan were the only reporters Tyler really talked to. hearing Tyler's voice sort of shocked me, hit me like a ton of bricks actually. thank you all for being a part of this.
------------------ Nellie - forever Tyler's mommy
IP: Logged
08:35 AM
JohnWPB Member
Posts: 5222 From: West Palm Beach, Florida Registered: May 2009
Nellie, wow, I can only imagine... Many of us involved in the build only got to talk to Tyler briefly, and really did not get the chance to know Tyler that well. Even with that being the case, seeing Tyler again, also caught me off guard for sure, so for you and Jay this has to bring back a lot of emotions all over again......
Ok then.... so on to another topic, what's with the banana riding the Lama? LOL
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 09-24-2010).]
IP: Logged
08:48 AM
SNAPPY829 Member
Posts: 346 From: Cary, Illinois Registered: Mar 2009
That was so cool, there is no way anyone can watch the video with a dry eye, very powerful and moving. Although I had never met Tyler, I am proud to be part of this community. I did get a chance to talk to Danelle at Fieroramma very cool!!
How can you tell ??? i don't see how people figure it out with a lot of ratings ????
Red bar got a hair larger. lol Can compare images and see pixel by pixel differences when viewed in a grid. I use it for work purposes, but discovered I can use it on my ratings bar a while back. lol
j/k 
