Marchers aim to foster child abuse awareness

Cheryl Hodges wrote recently to share her appreciation for the organizations and individuals who helped her organize the local Million March Against Child Abuse.

The walk was held April 11 in conjunction with the United Way Share Fair and Parade of the Children at Kalispell Center Mall.

The Million March Against Child Abuse is a nonpartisan, grass-roots effort to raise awareness of the often unseen crime of child abuse in communities across the country and to encourage tougher sentencing for violent crimes against children.

According to the national organization’s website, www.mmaca.us, statistics indicate that more than 10 children die each day in America from abuse.

Hodges thanked United Way for offering to connect and promote the two events, Andrea at McDonald’s and the Kalispell Police Department for keeping everyone safe during the march.

In her email, she also thanked “the many marchers who walked with us in this very important cause of the hidden epidemic of child abuse which ends the lives of approximately 10 children every day.”

Hodges ended her letter with a plea to everyone, “Report child abuse if you see it by calling 911 or 800-4-A-CHILD. It is your duty to help little ones who can’t help themselves.”

Nearly 60 local youths took to the skies during last month’s Young Eagle event at Kalispell City Airport thanks to the EAA Chapter 102 Young Eagle Program.

 A similar event was held Saturday at the airport in celebration of Airport Appreciation Day.

“I wish to thank the people at Red Eagle Aviation, the volunteers and pilots who helped, the local newspapers, TV and radio stations, the parents and especially the youth of Kalispell,” Delbert Schneider, coordinator for the local program, wrote.

At the May event, nearly 60 youths were introduced to aviation with free 15- to 20-minute flights over the valley. Pilots give passengers a preflight orientation and inspection of the aircraft and its controls. Some of the young passengers may even get a chance to take the controls while up in the air, and there’s time for questions after landing.

Since 1992, more than 1.9 million Young Eagles have earned their wings with the Experimental Aircraft Association. Some went on to become pilots, aircraft mechanics or air traffic controllers. The organization was founded in 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by a group of aviation enthusiasts interested in building their own airplanes. EAA later expanded to include vintage, aerobatic and ultralight aircraft and helicopters.

Today, EAA has 180,000 members around the world who share a passion for recreational flying. Headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, EAA hosts the popular Oshkosh Fly-In every July which attracts 500,000 spectators and 10,000 airplanes.

For more information about the local EAA chapter, contact Schneider at 406-249-4226 or dels316@gmail.com.

For more information about the Young Eagles Program, visit www.youngeagles.org.

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.