(l-r) Pierre Wicker, Mystic, takes Resident reporter Angela Olsen, Noank, on an Angel Flight. Angel Flight Northeast opperates medical compassion flights at no charge.
“It is not known precisely where angels dwell – whether in the air, the void, or the planets.
It has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode.”
- Voltaire
An assignment for the Resident recently let me in on a secret as to the whereabouts of the “dwelling” of Angels. They live all over our beautiful country and there might be one living in your neighborhood! Friday, May 28th, I met Pierre Wicker, Mystic, at Lanmar II, Groton-New London Airport, at 4:15 pm. The purpose? An Angel Flight, a medical compassion flight, leaving from Groton, to bring a patient from Boston to Maine.
Pierre, a handsome, fit, high-energy man of French origin, kindly extended his hand and helped me into the copilot seat of his Cirrus SR22, a single-engine aircraft which was first-rate. He explained emergency procedures to me, such as pulling a red handle with 25 pounds of pressure to activate a parachute, and how to open the doors. He went over his checklist with great attention to detail and shared the flight plan with me. We were to land in Boston, at Logan Airport, in about 45 minutes.
We were airborne within seconds, above the Long Island Sound, Ledge Light, and downtown New London in the blink of an eye. My hometown of New London looks exquisite from that vantage point.
Pierre, who began flying planes in 1975 and comes from a long line of aviators, flies at least two Angel Flights per month. I watched in amazement, as his capable hands maneuvered the aircraft and instruments, marveling at the fact that this flight is completely paid for out of Pierre’s pocket. There is no charge for an Angel Flight, and Angel Flight Northeast, which covers nine states, never refuses anyone in need.
We arrive in Boston and there is a sense of dignity given by the air traffic controllers when they hear that an Angel Flight is landing. As we escort our patient, Diane, to the aircraft, she seems exhausted.
Diane’s fight with cancer began in 2007. When her beloved doctor moved out of Maine, in pursuit of greater opportunities elsewhere, she was devastated. She began driving four to five hours in each direction, every week, to and from Boston for treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Center.
I sensed an intense determination to live in Diane. She had a catheter removed from her lung – while excruciating, it was necessary because she was retaining fluid. She learned how to care for it and won’t let it interfere with her plans to go on a trip to Tuscany for several weeks to enjoy the culture of Italy.
She said that cancer is disappointing because, “Your body is no longer your body.” She plays tennis when she is feeling well enough, saying that she is “not very good,” but enjoys the exercise, as she used to be a jock. Her two dogs, a Corgi and a Sheltie give her unconditional love. As a self-employed bookkeeper, people have shown tremendous support, even raising money to pay an exorbitant medical co-pay.
I sit in awe of Pierre, who is often silent if the patient is not up to chatting, and also of Diane, for her strength and grace while facing such a profound weekly burden of the trips to Boston.
In Maine, we say our goodbyes to Diane and Pierre and I head back to Groton. Everything feels a bit different after this experience. I gained a closer insight to the challenges so many people face and the generosity, which lives in the heart of the human spirit. After this flight, I can say, without hesitation, I believe in Angels.
If you or someone you know needs an Angel Flight please call 1.800.549.9980 or visit www.angelflightne.org
Stonington native, Kevin Frowling continues his success as a baseball player at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
by Maren Schober
Kevin Froling, a sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY, is “striking them out” in baseball. A 2008 graduate of Stonington High School, Kevin is continuing his success as a baseball player in college and making both his school and family proud.
“I am going into my Junior year at RPI,” Kevin tells me. “I chose to play baseball in college because it is a sport I enjoyed ever since I started playing it. I also chose RPI because they have a very successful baseball program including one of the highest winning percentages in the country under head coach Karl Stephen,” Kevin states.
“RPI is one of the best engineering schools in the country. I excell in math and science so engineering is a good career path for me. As a freshman, I was the smallest kid on the team and did not receive many opportunities to play. I worked hard in the off season and got stronger and faster while putting on 15-20 lbs. I still received minimal playing time but with a large graduating class this year, I am looking to step in as one of the regular outfielders for the next year’s team.
This year, coach Stephen classified me as a strong defensive outfielder with great bat control but lacks the power for long extra base hits. Also, this year, we were ranked as high as ‘seventh’ in the country for D3 baseball but did not play up to our potential at the end of the year, which was disappointing. Next year, we will have a young team with only three seniors. We should still have a pretty good team but it may turn into a rebuilding year with the number of seniors that we are losing.”
In high school Kevin participated in soccer, basketball, indoor track and baseball which he played for all four years including two as a starter. “I was a pitcher and an outfielder,” Kevin explains. “I had a high school career batting average of about .330 and I was a captain my senior year.”
All through high school Kevin was an honor roll student, participated in stage crew, link crew, National Honor Society and received eight varsity letters.
Last summer, Kevin worked as a camp councilor at Stonington High School. “This summer I will be working as an intern at Electric Boat in Groton. It will also be my second year playing in the CT College Baseball League (CCBL) for the Manchester Mavericks, where I am a starting outfielder and a relief pitcher. It is a wood bat summer league for college players in CT.”
Dodie Milardo "I passionately believe that this project has huge potential to help lots of people. My first goal is to raise one million dollars for charity."
story & photo
by Maren Schober
How many first time authors do you know who give most of their book profits to charity? Not many! Here is one. Her name is Dodie Milardo, a woman on a mission; a woman filled with zeal to help those less fortunate than herself. To listen to her is to begin to understand how much good one person can do who follows her dream on a steady path.
“My first book is a romance novel entitled Penelope’s Cruise,” Dodie shares with me. “When I came back from vacation and told my friends what happened on my vacation, they kept saying, ‘You have to write a book!’ Their words stayed with me and I decided to give it a try.”
Dodie’s readers tell her that Penelope’s Cruise is fun to read and a page turner. “While writing, I decided to spend more time volunteering,” Dodie continues. “I am so blessed and have everything I need: a wonderful husband, a great family, a nice home, clothes, food, heat in the winter. It occurred to me that I could use the book to raise money to help those who don’t have what they need. I also decided to start a company called To Give Is Divine, Ltd. It’s first fundraising is Penelope’s Cruise.”
An Oprah Show in February 2009 confirmed Dodie’s desire to help others. “The story was about tent cities cropping up all over the country because people have lost jobs and are losing their homes. I couldn’t stop crying. How on earth can people raise kids and send them to school when they live in a tent with no running water?”
Dodie strongly believes that God is guiding her in her mission to help those in need. “I passionately believe that this project has huge potential to help lots of people. My first goal is to raise one million dollars for charity.”
Recently, Dodie did a book signing to benefit High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Program, Old Lyme. “High Hopes gives horsemanship lessons to children and adults with disabilities. It was an amazing and humbling experience. These special needs kids are the happiest kids! I had the privilege of presenting winner ribbons to four riders. The feeling I got when I was able to donate 90% of the proceeds from the sale of Penelope’s Cruise during the book signing was priceless.”
Dodie is doing another book signing at an event June 22. “It is a Wine Tasting/Book Signing to benefit the Children’s Community Programs of CT. They provide a variety of services for children with special needs. The event is being held at the Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford. For tickets you can all Linda Fecteau at 203.786.6403 x127.”
To order Penelope’s Cruise or to contact Dodie, go to her website www.togiveisdivine.com.
(l-r) William Yuhas Senior, Tim Yuhas and Duane Yuhas, represent three generations of service and gathered for the luncheon.
story & photo
by Angela Olsen
Saturday May 22, is Korean War Veterans Recognition Day, as declared in a proclamation issued by the Town of East Lyme. On Saturday May 22 several people, including veterans of the Korean conflict, boy and girl scouts, and East Lyme High School volunteers, all gathered at East Lyme High School for a special lunch in celebration of this designation. The East Lyme Veterans Council organized this luncheon, and had Jim Reed from Kool 101 MC the event.
Jim Reed led the group through a rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance, invited a High School volunteer, Sarah Cunningham of Niantic, to read a moving poem, “One Step Closer,” written by a student who won a writing contest, which detailed her grandfather’s service helmet and the picture inside. In “One Step Closer,” Jennifer Cordero writes about how her grandfather never shared war-stories, and that she never got to know him firsthand. Yet, through a picture and some notes written on a piece of paper in this helmet, she felt she was able to grow closer to knowing about his life.
Among the guest speakers was Rose Ann Hardy who is no stranger to the sacrifices of a military family. She told the group of her uncle’s dear suffering from mustard gas poisoning, and that she is the product of many, many schools because her family was always on the move. She told me of a sleeveless, cotton dress, which her grandma made, with “I Like Ike” campaign buttons all over it, and how she stumbled upon a reproduction of it in the Smithsonian Museum in DC.
Most importantly, The East Lyme Veterans Council would like people to remember the 37,000 United States Armed Forces members who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Korea, as Ambassadors of The Free World. They would also like to thank the Flanders’ School for making the lovely banners, which set the tone for the afternoon, and several local businesses who dedicated food and beverages.
Stan Cardinal, president and owner, started the Cardinal Honda Flag Loaner Program five years ago.
by Jessica Warzeniak
Old Glory, The Red, White and Blue, The Star Spangled Banner, no matter what you call it, the American Flag is a symbol of our country, patriotism, and sacrifice. In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th to commemorate the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. On Flag Day, and throughout National Flag Week – the week of June 14th – Americans are urged to fly the flag. This simple act of patriotism continues throughout the year and Cardinal Honda, Groton, is making it easier.
Stan Cardinal, president and owner, started the Cardinal Honda Flag Loaner Program five years ago. A unique concept, the dealership has five sizes of flags, from 6 feet by 10 feet to 25 feet by 40 feet, available for the community to borrow at no cost.
“We always had a flag pole in front of Cardinal Honda and we were always loaning flags,” says Stan. “The first time we loaned a flag was when Sonalysts Studios opened in Waterford 17 years ago. At the grand opening, it was one of our flags hanging on the side of the building.”
The transition to a formal program was an easy decision. “We find it is very helpful for community organizations to borrow flags from us,” says Stan. “The flags can be costly and organizations can’t afford to buy them for one time use. That’s where Cardinal Honda can help. This is just a little bit that we can do to keep the spirit of American patriotism alive within these groups.”
The flags are available for use in parades, as back drops for performing arts stages, special events, functions, and much more. Most recently, the flags were used for fallen Marine Lance Corporal Tyler Griffin’s memorial procession, fundraising events for Operation Lobster Dinner, and local Memorial Day parades. “We are very fortunate to be located on the coast and have so many sea going services in our area. These include the Coast Guard, Maritime Services and the Naval Submarine Base – all have utilized the Cardinal Honda Flag Loaner Program for their formal and professional events,” says Stan. “At Cardinal Honda, we are honored to be able to be a part of their events and loan our flags to them.”
Perhaps, one of the most prestigious events a Cardinal Honda flag was borrowed for was the 2008 reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City. David Winters, Executive Vice President of the Museum, heard of the flag loaner program and contacted Stan. He needed a very large flag, very quickly. Stan saved the day by graciously lending the Intrepid a 20 foot by 38 foot American flag.
For more information or to reserve a flag for your organization, contact Bernadette Drennen, by calling 860.449.0411 or emailing bdrennen@cardinalhonda.com.
