82 year-old Laconia woman flies in a B-17, crosses off another item on 'bucket list'

GILFORD — When Sally Dame was growing up in Concord, her family lived near an airport, giving her a great vantage point to watch — and hear — the planes come through on their way to fight in World War II. It was a powerful sight, inspiring Dame's brother to join the Air Corps and a sight which Dame recalled decades later, in 2004, when she was lying on a bed her family and doctors thought she'd die on. Instead, she survived and yesterday she realized a dream she had as a teenager, to fly in one of those big birds of war.

Dame graduated from Concord High School in 1946. She had five girls that she started raising in Concord and then moved to Laconia in 1961, worked for AT&T and watched her children have kids of their own. In 2001, Dame had her first health scare when she underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery. A few years later, she was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. Although doctors did their best to treat her, they also told her they expected her to die within six months.

But she didn't. She and her doctors beat her cancer.

"I had a chance to live again," she said.

Dame, who is now cancer-free and lives on Court Street, said that she doesn't intend to waste the extra time she was given.

Dame, 82, now has a "bucket list" — a list of things to do before she kicks the proverbial bucket. She's already completed some of the items, such as traveling to Hawaii and visiting the Pearl Harbor Memorial. She wants to see the Blue Angels and see her grandson get married next year. Yesterday, though, was a day for her to finally see the inside of a big World-War II-era bomber, which she was able to do when the Wings of Freedom tour brought three authentic and flight-worthy planes to Laconia Airport for a three day stay.

They brought a B-24 bomber, a P-51 fighter and a B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber, the last of which was carrying Dame when it took off into the clear skies yesterday evening for a quick flight around the region.

Dame's father and brother, and many of her other relatives, fought in World War II. "I worried a lot about them," she said as she was waiting to board the plane. Last week, she attended the funeral for the last of her surviving siblings, a sister who was 18 months younger than Dame. Perhaps it was a reminder that she had a few items left on her list. With little notice, she realized that the Wings of Freedom tour would be stopping in Laconia, and she jumped on the opportunity.

"We all take things for granted. I'm blessed to have my five kids," she said, adding that she considered it a blessing that she is able to "give everyone a hug."

Linda Bryar, one of Dame's daughters who watched from the tarmac as the family matriarch boarded a 65 year-old plane, said, "She's unbelievable. That woman has such a strong will it's unbelievable." Bryar said she tried to talk her mother out of the adventure, but Dame knew better.

"It's awesome, it's a dream come true," Barbara Foote, another of Dame's daughters, said as she watched the plane take off. "She was so excited this morning."

After the flight, Dame said, "I thought it was wonderful. I'd do it again."

CUTLINE to be used with DAME and DAME'S RIDE in AA:

Sally Dame, 82, of Laconia, accomplished one of her life's goals yesterday by riding in a World War II-vintage B-17 bomber. The plane was at Laconia Airport courtesy of the Wings of Freedom tour. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)