By Sheila Dassatt
The Majabigwaduce Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution honored the Island Fishermen’s Wives Association with the National Community Service Award at the Center for Coastal Fisheries in Stonington, Maine on October 24th.
Opening remarks were made by Vice Regent Pam Prescott with the award being presented by Regent Liz Blake. There was an open forum for remarks from John McMillan of McMillan Offshore Safety Training who led the swimming class at the YMCA along with Tom Duyme of the Eastern Maine Skipper’s Program. There was an opportunity for the guests to tell a little something about the IFWA’s as well. I was able to relate to their help with the Leslie Hicks Memorial Fund that was established due to Leslie’s ultimate sacrifice in the Viet Nam War. They continued the family’s wishes to establish a swimming program for the safety of the kids growing up on the Island. This is very important for the kids that have their Student Lobster Licenses and are out on the boats learning the fishing trade. It is also important in general for the kids on the Island to know what to do in case of an emergency on the fishing vessel that they are on.
Going back to 1989, the Island Fishermen’s Wives Association was formed after the loss of two lobster fishermen within two weeks time, Clyde Haskell and Allen Thompson. They had actually gathered at a baby shower and said how sad it was that there was no plan in place to help families in need. They put an ad in the local paper to see if there was interest in forming a group. Twenty girls showed up for the meeting! They decided that they will all pay dues and compose by-laws and an outline of how the group would be run.
They looked at other towns as a guide line and started Fishermen’s Day. This was when they raised money for a swimming pool fund and honored three fishermen a year for the Hall of Fame, which they also had established. The IFWA were given the Leslie Hicks Fund, which was to help establish a swimming pool for the Island Youth. They invested in a CD which accumulated interest to be used for swimming lessons, safety classes, transportation for Camp Kooky (which is a day camp for kids), for times of need, scholarships and much more. They will continue to do this as long as they have funds.
When the YMCA was built in Blue Hill, they had a swimming pool built as well. The IFWA started a new program called “Youth Safety and Survival Program” for ten Island Students ages 10 years and up. This is for students with their lobster licenses. The program is in collaboration with Tom Duym, Eastern Maine Skipper’s Program from the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, the Blue Hill YMCA (who donated the pool time) and John McMillan’s Safety Training Program from the Maine Maritime Academy.
At this point in time, the IFWA has hosted two of these safety classes and the kids just loved it! The IFWA participate with helping at the class and feel that it is a very valuable asset for getting the youth started with safety on the water. They also award annual scholarships to the Deer Isle-Stonington High School graduates.
The Island Fishermen’s Wives Association have been a leading support and asset to the Island Community since they were founded in 1989. Congratulations and keep up the good work!
Now I’d like to give a background on the Daughters of American Revolution, who were very kind to apply to the National Headquarters for this award. Thank you, Pam!
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890, during a time that was marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the beginnings of the United States of America. Women felt the desire to express their patriotic feelings and were frustrated by their exclusion from men’s organizations formed to perpetuate the memory of ancestors who fought to make this country free and independent. As a result, a group of pioneering women in the nation’s capital formed their own organization and the Daughters of the American Revolution has carried the torch of patriotism ever since.
The objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same in 125 years of active service to the nation. These objectives are Historical – to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, Educational – to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people ”to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing the enlightened public opinion” and Patriotic – to cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom , to foster true patriotism and love of country and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.
DAR members come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, but all share a common bond of having an ancestor who helped contribute to securing the independence of the United States of America. They all have lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.
*** – This information came from the Website story of the DAR.
