keepers whose
mission was to safeguard mankind from the perils of the sea. The valor and
vigilance of the bygone keepers of the light is the stuff of legends. Their
selfless efforts forged an example of human benevolence that has few equals
throughout American history.
Today, many lighthouses in the United States suffer from the ravages of
time. The adverse affects of neglect, vandalism and storms often remain
unchecked, exacting their toll on these stately beacons and pushing them
ever closer to the edge of oblivion.
Even the faithful lightkeeper seems to have gone away – banished forever
into the annals of history by the irresistible advancement of technology.
With such uncertainty, who will step forward to prevent these guiding lights
of the sea from being lost? Have America’s lightkeepers truly gone away?
Thankfully, our nation’s tradition of “keeping a good light” is still being
carried on by modern day volunteer “keepers,” people just like you, who are
passionately determined to save and preserve as much of the United State’s
lighthouse heritage before it is too late.
It is this kind of special breed of volunteers, individuals who have made a
profound impact in lighthouse preservation during the calendar year 2007
that the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) was proud to honor with the
organization’s prestigious “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award.”
From educating the public about lighthouses and raising vital monies for
their preservation to coordinating complex volunteer schedules and
participating in hands-on restoration projects, the 17 special volunteers
listed below performed just about every task imaginable to ensure that
lighthouse preservation’s “guiding light” continues to burn bright in the
21st century.
Volunteerism is the backbone of the American Lighthouse Foundation’s
success. Without the unwavering commitment of hundreds of people just like
those individuals honored in 2007, and the dedicated support of thousands of
members nationwide, the organization would not be able to care for and
preserve the twenty historic lighthouses under its stewardship from
Connecticut to Maine.
ALF has twelve chapters throughout New England ands is also the managing
partner of the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine, home to America’s
largest collection of Fresnel lenses and lighthouse artifacts founded by the
late Ken Black, “Mr. Lighthouse.”
The volunteers honored in 2007 by their respective groups, each a chapter of
the American Lighthouse Foundation, is listed below:
Friends of
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Rockland, Maine:
Eric Davis
Sandy Clements
Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, Biddeford Pool, Maine:
Sean Murphy
Shirley Stallings
Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, New Harbor, Maine:
Joseph Ponti
Sue Merrick
Doug Merrick
Friends of Little River Lighthouse, Cutler, Maine:
Al Vachon
Pat Vachon
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, New Castle, New Hampshire:
Sharon Mills
William Marshall
Cape Cod Chapter (Race Point Lighthouse), Provincetown, Massachusetts:
David Spang
Michele Dirksen
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, Riverside, Rhode Island:
David Kelleher
Rob Charbonneau
New England Lighthouse Lovers:
Ron Foster, Connecticut
Frank Carbone, Massachusetts
Posted: 12/20/2007
