As the early morning members arrive at the Susan M. Duncan YMCA, they are greeted by name by a smiling Scotsman named Harold Lif, a membership representative at the YMCA. He stands large behind the reception desk with one ear glued to a phone, one hand working the computer and the other busy swiping membership cards. Few would know that Harold, a retired Master Sergeant in the Air Force and who was awarded the bronze star, used to dispose of bombs for a living.

Harold reflects on his past, " I have been as far East as Pakistan and as far West as Laos, but my Vietnam service was the most rewarding and the most challenging. There was always something going on. "I would get called in to clean up aircraft accidents that still had intact bombs on board. In bomb disposal, it was all about saving lives not taking lives. We went in with the mind set that we were putting our life on the line to save others. After11 years I came out with all10 fingers and all10 toes. It was actually about having good luck!"

Harold credits his military experience for doing whatever is necessary or any duty required whether it is disposing of bombs or working at the YMCA. He laughs, "One day the assistant for the gym and swim class for 3- to 5-year-olds called in ill and I was asked to fill in. Now I am the instructor and I have an assistant."

Harold, who joined as a YMCA member in 1999, was recruited for his current position in 2002. "This is a great job for a retired person. It gets me out of the house, gives me something to do and gets me around people." Harold truly believes in the mission of the YMCA and also works as an active volunteer helping with the various events and donates three hours of his wages monthly back to the Strong Kids Campaign where he is also a committee member.

It is not unusual to find Harold in uniform at a YMCA special event wearing his dark blue-green Clan Macneil Scottish kilt. He laughs, "A member once told me I looked like a cross between Sean Connery and Santa Claus!" Harold wears his kilt proudly and speaks passionately about his heritage. "Fifteen years ago I attended the Long Peaks Scottish Irish Festival and Highland games in Estes Park. I knew little about my mother's Scottish-Irish heritage and wanted to learn more. The more I dug the more interesting it got." Now, as a member of the Scottish American Military Society, he serves as the color guard carrying the stars and stripes at festivals, parades and special activities.

"Harold is a great ambassador for the YMCA," stated Mike Jackson, executive director at the Susan M. Duncan YMCA. "His charismatic grin and his ability to know everybody by name. He always has an upbeat attitude and keeps our membership happy and starts their day off right!" Harold credits his father for his strong work ethic. "He always taught me that a person needs to work like you would like to have someone work for you. Here at the YMCA we are a tight-knit extended family. We laugh and joke a lot. It's a lot more fun!"

The Susan M. Duncan Family YMCA of Metropolitan Denver Association has served the Arvada community since 1999, offering programs and services to individuals and families regardless of age, gender, race, religion, national origin or financial ability. It is the YMCA's vision that the people in the communities it serves turn to the YMCA as their provider of choice for the programs and services it offers. The YMCA is the largest not-for-profit provider of childcare and youth sports programs in the metropolitan area.