Editor:
Eight years ago, four Daniel Boone educators — Shannon Helzer, Sid Harwood, James Angle and myself — came up with an idea to have JROTC students assist mobility-challenged veterans at World War II Weekend. We took our idea to Mid Atlantic Air Museum Director Brenda Saylor, and Operation Wheelchair was born. She helped us organize the effort from tickets to volunteer parking to unloading areas that facilitated wheelchairs.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the volunteers who help our senior citizen friends around the vast grounds of the air show. The Reading Eagle and Mike Keller of WEEU have helped us highlight this effort over the years.
This year was bittersweet, as Brenda passed away shortly before the show. Operation Wheelchair would not have begun without her enthusiastic support. She was the subject of a heartfelt tribute at this year’s show, and all of us involved in Operation Wheelchair hope her memory lives on through a fitting tribute at each World War II Weekend.
G. Dane Miller
Ontelaunee Township
Source: Berkshire mont
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