Touch-A-Truck Tuesday spins off into new heights
The brisk temperatures of a spring waiting to bloom could be felt throughout the Lewes area on the morning of March 29, but for a lucky group of curious onlookers who bundled up and braved the winds, a manmade gust was about to lift their spirits. A Delaware State Police helicopter, piloted by Master Cpl. Jeff Gliem accompanied by Master Cpl. Ed Sebastianelli, was touching down for a first-of-its-kind demonstration in the popular interactive children’s program Touch-A-Truck Tuesday.
Adding to the excitement surrounding the landing was the fact that the helicopter and the two crew members were actively on duty during the demonstration, since whenever weather permits, the N6SP has a working crew ready to go at all times. The pulsations of the enormous blades could be heard and almost felt, and an instantaneous energy of wonder and curiosity could be seen from the wind-kissed faces of both children and parents. The crew safely secured the area for visitors, and the lawn that just seconds ago was whirling with leaves was now sprawling with children and families eager to learn about the lifesaving helicopter gleaming in the sun before them.
Jennifer Noonan, who organized the event, estimated that there were about 150 people in attendance to see the very first aircraft to take part in Touch-A-Truck Tuesday. Noonan, the Lewes Public Library children’s librarian, said past events had featured a Coast Guard boat, tractors and various utilitarian trucks, but this first aviation vehicle drew what she believed to be the largest crowd to date.
“We reached out to the state police and asked them if they would be willing to do this outreach, and they were more than happy to do it. They called me this morning and just checked the map, and [said] we’ll see you in the backyard,” Noonan said.
With a focus on preschool-aged children, but an invitation for all, this version of Touch-A-Truck Tuesday allowed participants to get an up-close and personal look at the technology behind frontline aviation. Ironically, due to safety concerns, only crew members were allowed to actually touch the helicopter. Children were still allowed to look at the inside of the chopper, ask about important pieces of equipment for lifesaving and protective operations, and talk to first responders about how they perform lifesaving operations while maintaining a proper flight pattern.
Crew members explained how the harness works during a water rescue, that the helicopter’s interior is set up exactly like the inside of an ambulance, and that it took all of five minutes for the helicopter to get to Lewes Public Library from Georgetown.
Dulcena Kemmerlin and her 3-year-old grandson Luka were two of the many curious onlookers.
“Luka is interested in so many things,” Kemmerlin said. “We have definitely learned a lot about the back blade and that sensor on the back that allows the helicopter to stay up, or if it’s going down, it helps lift it up in the front.”
Noonan said the Touch-A-Truck Tuesday program will continue into April, in place of the usual preschool story times, but it may not be held every week.
“We’ve been doing this in place of preschool story time weekly just as a way to keep people getting together and a way to meet our community helpers,” she said. “Even if we start our story time back up, I think we will continue to do Touch-A-Truck, maybe not on a weekly basis, but we’ll definitely continue.”
For more information about this program or others offered by Lewes Public Library, go to lewes.lib.de.us, or contact Noonan at 302-645-2733, Ext. 4181, or Jennifer.Noonan@lib.de.us.
