Posted on 11/07/2008 4:02:01 PM PST by SandRat
TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 7, 2008 A little boy from Flagstaff, Ariz., touched the lives of Guardsmen at the 162nd Fighter Wing here last year when he visited the wing to be a fighter pilot for a day, and he continues to inspire unit members today.
Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Rhino Reinhold volunteered to be Dominics instructor pilot showing him the airplanes, simulators and fighter pilot gear. For the first-grader, the visit concluded with an honorary commission as a second lieutenant in the Arizona Air National Guard and status as a pilot; but that was just the beginning. When we heard about Dominic, we wanted to make a lasting bond not just create an overwhelming experience and then say, Good luck with the rest of your life, Reinhold said. He visits Dominic about once every three months in Flagstaff, Phoenix or Tucson. Between visits, Dominic gets e-mails from Reinhold and counts the days until the next reunion. Their last visit was Oct. 30 for a day spent at the Phoenix Zoo. Dominics health had noticeably improved since he first came to the wing 18 months ago, and his concentrated treatments had shifted to once-a-week infusions at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. When [the Guardsmen] first met him, he was in relapse and he had just started an intensive treatment program, said Susan Magne, Dominics grandmother. You saw him at his worst. It gets better as it goes along, and it becomes maintenance, like hes in now. Hes doing good. Things are pretty steady healthwise. But until hes done with treatment in April, we wont know if hes in remission. She added that Dominic, now a second-grader, is full of energy. Hes active in school and church, and he recently joined the Cub Scouts. It was something he wanted to try, she said. Dominic even wants to play soccer someday. He keeps me busy. She credits Dominics experience at the 162nd as an important event in his recovery. He remembers it, because his [flight] suit is hanging on the wall with all of the pictures, and his helmet is on his bookcase. He remembers the time he spent with Scott the most, because that was one-on-one time, the boys grandmother said. He enjoys Scott. He doesnt have a lot of male attachment, and having Scott around has been really important, because he relies on him for a good influence. In March, Dominic made a second visit to the 162nd. Reinhold took him to the F-16 simulator again, they watched take offs and landings from the ramp, and Dominic stayed the night with Reinholds family. Reinhold even showed up for a show-and-tell at Dominics school. It amazes me that you have continued to do this, Susan Magne told Reinhold during their trip to the zoo. Most guys would say, Well Ive got a family, Im busy. As a father of three, Reinhold said, he knows its relationships that make all the difference. He has a 14-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old son and a 6-year-old son. I dont want my kids to think that this is a special effort that Im making here with Dominic, he said. I want them to see this as a normal part of life. If we could all find one person in need, emotional or physical, and make a commitment to befriend them, how much better would everything be? They see that when I go see my buddy Dominic hes a friend that Ive made a commitment to, he continued. Not just a one-day commitment, but a long one -- maybe a lifetime. Inspired by Dominic and his friendship with Reinhold, the men and women of the 162nd Fighter Wing are organizing a toy drive for children at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. (Air Force Capt. Gabe Johnson serves in the 162nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office.) |
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HERO
I thought he was going to 10 feet up in the air he was jumping so hard, and he was only 4 years old at the time!
Great thing for them to do, fabulous that it helped this boy.
When I read about sick loved ones, I realize that many families do not have the luxury of contemplating who the next president will be and how he will govern.
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