Waer rescue boat

The abundant legacy Lieutenant Mark Miller left to his community and his department has been further enriched by the determined efforts of Gilford resident Alan Lydiard. "His mission is to fulfill Mark's dream," said Fire Chief Ken Erickson of Lydiard's dedication to providing the Fire Department with the water rescue boat, which Miller long envisioned.

Miller first approached Lydiard, a salesman at Irwin Marine, in the autumn of 2002 with his vision for a water rescue craft. Together they settled on twenty-and-one-half boat manufactured by the commercial division of EdgeWater Powerboats of Edgewater, Florida, which is used by fire departments, law enforcement agencies and the United States Navy. The boat is fitted with a rescue door, which drops down to enable the crew to bring someone aboard directly from the water. The boat is powered by a 200 horsepower OptiMax by Mercury Marine. The electronics by Ray Marine include a radar GPS chart plotter and high definition bottom sonar.

Lydiard explained that since he had experience writing grants, he intended to work with Miller to collects the funds required to purchase the boat. "He was sitting in my office two days before he died," Lydiard said.

When Miller, the leader of the Fire Department's dive team died in a drowning accident on March 11, Lydiard vowed to launch a water rescue boat dedicated to his memory. "Everyone has stepped up to the plate," Lydiard said yesterday. "It has been absolutely amazing. They just don't say no."

EdgeWater Powerboats readily agreed to build the boat at cost plus five percent and ship it from Florida to Laconia without charge. Mercury Marine sold the motor at cost. Ray Marine donated the $10,000 electronics package. Wayland Engineering of Connecticut has donated the light bar with strobe and siren. Easy Loader of Montana donated the trailer for the boat. Say-It-In-Stitches is embroidering jackets bearing the department's crest for the crew. LDR Productions is embroidering the image of Miller's helmet, Number 13, to grace the cockpit cover and the New Hampshire Department of Safety will register the boat as "0013FD."

Altogether this generosity nearly halved the cost of the boat fully equipped and outfitted, Lydiard explained. Moreover, Lydiard said that Irwin Marine, Channel Marine, Lakeport Landing, Laconia Savings Bank, Naswa Resort, Melcher and Prescott and other firms have each contributed $5,000 or more to the Lifesaving Fund, established in Miller's name, to apply toward acquiring and equipping the boat as well as training the crew.

"The boat is being built as we speak," Lydiard said, "and will be delivered sometime in the first weeks of July. We just need to finish paying for it." He remarked that City Councilor Rick Judkins (Ward 5) arranged for him to make a presentation to the City Council on April 12 when he will request a $10,000 contribution from the city. "Every municipality on Lake Winnipesaukee has a fireboat except Laconia, the City on the Lakes," Lydiard said. Although he hopes the city will contribute to the project, he said that "if the City Council takes the money from another department, any other department, I will turn it down."

Lydiard has also planned a dinner and auction at Goodfellas Tavern and Grill in downtown Laconia, with catering donated by Goodfellas and Patrick's Pub, for April 15. He has assembled an array of New England sports memorabilia for auction, which he believes will fetch high prices. Several former Boston Bruin hockey players will attend.

Plans are underway for dedicating the boat, once it is equipped and rigged, at a ceremony open to the public at the Winnipesaukee Expo Center in July, which the governor, United States Senators and Representatives and other officials are expected to attend.

"I have mixed emotions," Erickson confessed. "It was a dream until Mark died. I didn't think it would happen. Mark had to die. It is absolutely amazing what Alan has done."

"I'm no hero," Lydiard insisted. "I'm just making sure Mark's dream comes true. I did it because Mark's dedication to his duty, his job and his family was intoxicating."