Meredith Rotary Club

Virtual Membership Meeting

June 3, 2020

 

President Craig led us in a very profound invocation linking in the urgencies of today with the need for prayer and reflection.

Announcements: 

-  The District “Gala” is this Saturday.  All members are encouraged to contribute and participate.  97% of donated funds from our club will be returned to Meredith Rotary!

-  Paul Harris awards were presented to Heidi, Tim, John Sherman and Jim McFarlin.  Craig praised each awardee noting their very significant contributions to Meredith Rotary and their communities.

-  Craig expressed the gratitude of all club members to Gary, Kevin (and Craig) for their prompt action ensuring our successful Global Grant in behalf of our local volunteer fire personnel.  Our contribution of just under $10,000 was matched more than three times.

-  Craig also recognized our tech experts (Bruce, Harry, Fred, Ray and others) who behind the scenes, have been working tirelessly to update out Fishing Derby software

Evening Program – Gary

Gary took us on an exciting ‘flight’ through his career as an aviator.  His power-point narrated program began in his native New Jersey but really ‘took off’ at Grove City College in up-state New York when he joined the Air Force ROTC in the late 60’s.  Graduating as Commandant of Cadets; he was awarded a degree in biology (which he never used!); was commissioned a 2ne Lt. in the USAF; married his beloved Connie; landed at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma; and found himself instructing others to fly the T-41; T-37; and the T-38.  He cracked the ‘speed of sound’ in the T-38 before touching down at 180 MPH. 

Some years of flying later, the Air Force reduced their numbers of commissioned officers and Gary was about to be unemployed.  As would have it, his Air Force commission, within days overlapped a commission in the US Coast Guard (for six hours) and he began the remainder of his career flying ‘over water’. His “office with a view” became a C-130!  His flight plan then reached from North Carolina to Newfoundland.

Continuing his self-described “Toys for Boys” flights until is retirement in 2013, Gary related solemn moments, anxious moments, joyful moments and high tech achievements.  As aircraft commander, laying a wreath at the site of the Titanic sinking was a profound moment.  Being chased by a “Russian Bear” turbo-prop (likely out of Cuba as this was during the cold war) was an anxious moment but only one of several.  While stationed in Kodiac, AK, the not infrequent challenge of landing on runways that began with the sea and ended with the mountains with no approach lights (only ground lights) was a bit disconcerting!  Flying through Cuban airspace with orders (that were later challenged by top brass) could have led to an international incident but didn’t. 

The joyful moments years earlier were certainly the birth of his two daughters and time with Connie who was always his ‘co-pilot’.  Home was anywhere Gary was assigned from Oklahoma to North Carolina; from Kodiak to Jacksonville and many places in between.  In many ways Gary is still living dreams of flight while he cherishes memories of “Toys For Boys”.