FLIGHT OF THE CANAAN CRANES
Charles Lindbergh's Paris flight is still recognized as one of the 20th century's clearer examples of "can do" spirit. In a backyard in Canaan, Maine sits a piece of that flight that allows its owner, Larry Ross, to influence the youth of central Maine in a positive manner. The crate was used to transport the Spirit of St. Louis home to the United States after the Paris flight. It became the property of Admiral Guy Burrage whose flagship, the USS Memphis, was assigned the task of bringing Lindbergh home. Burrage brought it to his home in New Hampshire and turned it into a cottage which was in serious disrepair and about to be lost when Mr. Ross found it in 1990. With a lot of work and a great deal of assistance from individuals here in Maine he managed to restore the dilapidated crate and turn it into a museum which he operates as a hobby at his home.
Each year for the past nine years, Mr. Ross uses Lindbergh's flight and the crate to demonstrate to children the importance of having a vision of what you wish to achieve. Add to that a clear plan, an effective team, and the ability to remain focused on your objective and you have a formula for success that worked for Lindbergh and can work for children today.
Annually, at an event called Lindbergh Crate Day Mr. Ross provides children an educational experience, filled with not only, excitement, but also with examples of values and role models for them to aspire to. Using Lindbergh's flight as a backdrop, kids participate in a variety of educational activities. Mr. Ross invites a cross-section of people to the event that have achieved some aspect of their own visions. It makes for a powerful learning experience and has been a successful and well-received event. One of the activities consists of what is perhaps the best "backyard" airshow in the country.
One of the classes attending Crate Day was the Palmyra 4th grade. Their teacher, Mr. Gilbert, talks about a vision he had: Follow this link to continue the story:Sedaka and the Thousand Paper Cranes
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