R. LaBlanc: Thank you all for making difference in this boy's last days

To The Daily Sun,

On Saturday, March 21, the Lakes Region demonstrated its extraordinary capacity for generosity and kindness by supporting the Vermont and N.H. Make-a-Wish organizations in creating a very special day for a young boy who hasn’t much longer to live.

His wish: to be at the beach and throw sand in the air. Not easy in New England in the late winter. Travel was out of the question. First, the Vermont contingent went to his home (across the river from us) and built a fabulous sand box which, on the warm days we had recently, he was able to enjoy with his younger sister, digging and packing and yes, throwing some sand in the air.

For the Make-a-Wish folks, that was not enough. Make-a-Wish Vermont and N.H. prepared his grandparents’ home on the lake for a visit from the boy and his family. They provided meals, brought more toys (sand and otherwise, so he had more chances to throw sand in the air) and then stepped it up even more.

What do small boys love most? Cars, trucks and construction equipment. The two organizations worked together to create magic on Saturday: A fire truck picked up the boy and his family at the lake house, and brought them to the Harley-Davidson dealership in Meredith. There, to his delight, was a parade of his favorite things on four wheels: fire trucks, police cars, motorcycles, a flatbed with a backhoe, a front-end loader (which later demonstrated its awesomeness by moving a huge pile of snow around), other trucks and even a red Ferrari (red cars are his favorite).

The parade went around the Harley place at least three times. Later, there were flags planted at the house before a special display of fireworks was set off for the boy and everyone to enjoy (fire chief in attendance!). And then the next morning, a police cruiser came and picked up the boy and his family for a ride — very cool!-

Thank you Lakes Region. Thank you to the women and men in uniform (state trooper, Canterbury, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Tilton and others) who volunteered on their days off to create this wonderful gift for a small boy you do not even know. Thank you to the folks at Meredith Harley-Davidson for sharing your space for this. Thank you to the big machines people (DMT, Imperial Hauling) and the people on motorcycles and in the other vehicles for contributing to this event. Thank you to the Ferrari-guy for the Ferrari swag and the cool Ferrari keepsake car. But most of all, thank you to the folks at both the Vermont and N.H. Make-a-Wish organizations for making this all happen. Thank you for your thoughtfulness for what a small boy (and his family) would like, and for your capacity to give and give and give to make possibility become reality. Thank you for making a difference in this boy's last days.

R. LeBlanc 

Portsmouth