The devastation wrought over the past week by Hurricane Sandy in New York City and coastal areas from the Carolinas to Cape Cod has once again driven home to us how fragile life is and how much we depend on helping hands from our fellow man when Mother Nature or other circumstances throw challenges at us that we cannot overcome alone.
Here in our small town world, it seems that we can always count on our neighbors to reach out their helping hands whenever we need them. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is the time for all of us to offer whatever help we can provide.
Veterans Day, 2012. What a heritage the United States of America has to celebrate! On November 11, we recognize and we honor the men and women who have served and who are serving today in our Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.
Our nation has endured wars and military actions at home and abroad for the better part of three centuries, going back to the days before we were actually a nation. In the face of tyranny, oppression, aggression, insurrection and terrorism, we have always been able to count on our nation’s military forces. They do the job. They train, they travel, they sacrifice and they support.
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Christmas is coming, and coming soon! For many families, providing a memorable Christmas for the kids can be a problem in these often difficult economic times. Here in 2012, the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club of Wilton, New York embarked on the “Give a Child Christmas” toy run for their 14th consecutive year. Although the motorcycle run itself was held on October 14, their mission is ongoing and they are asking for your help.
A local drop box for toys has been placed in the Connors Agency office on Central Avenue in Mechanicville.
Candy Merchant, secretary of our area’s Chapter 12 of RKIFMC, says “We help working families that fall through the cracks and are having a hard time managing to try to give the kids anything.”
Red Knights is an international organization composed exclusively of firefighters who are dedicated to promoting motorcycle safety and fellowship among firefighters who ride motorcycles. Originally formed in Northboro, MA in 1982, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds to include chapters in 43 states, the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces and five foreign countries.
Gifts of toys for the children can be left in the drop box at the Connors Agency during working hours, or monetary contributions to help fund this very worthy project can be mailed to Jim Alexander at 12 Northwest Pass in Ballston Lake, NY 12019.
When three rare World War II aircraft from the Wings of Freedom Tour flew into the Schenectady County Airport in Glenville last week, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the average citizen to see up close and personal historic planes which played such a vital role in saving our world nearly 70 years ago. A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber, a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber and a P-51 Mustang were on the tarmac adjacent to the Empire State Aerosciences Museum and open for inspection by visitors.
These storied planes highlighted a three-day event which featured tours of the museum itself, a craft show, book sale and some great food on a cold and dreary day. Visitors were able to board the two bombers to get just a little bit of perspective as to what those Army Air Corps crews had to endure while fighting to bring an end to the Nazi threat which had a stranglehold on all of Europe at the time.
Being the history buffs we are, Tom and I could not pass up the opportunity to see those planes, so we braved threatening rain and the late morning chill to join hundreds of other folks who also chose to avail themselves of this rare chance to see these aircraft.
