FARGO, N.D. — “I can see by your smile that you’re pretty excited,” 1st Lt. Andy Teigen said to Jack Gellner, 9, this morning as he sat in his new flight suit awaiting to be promoted to an honorary general in the North Dakota Air National Guard.
That smile never faded as the hours ticked away during his time as a “Pilot for a Day.”
“You’re going to be my boss today,” Col. Rick Gibney, 119th Wing commander, told Jack before pinning a general’s star on his uniform. “Today, whatever you say around here goes.”
Jack, of West Fargo, N.D., has Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a motor neuron disease. Sanford Health connected him with the Happy Hooligans, knowing that he’d enjoy the program that honors a child who is fighting or has overcome a life-threatening illness or condition. He received his orders to “report for duty” in the mail, and repeated his oath of office back to Gibney. The oath included the promise that he would “enjoy the day, have fun, and be a great pilot.”
Jack chose to go by the call sign “Lightning” for the day, “because my chair is fast as lightning, and it’s dangerous,” he said.
He’s never been able to walk and has used a wheelchair since he was 2, “but it’s never stopped him,” his mom, Kristi, said.
His dad, Rod, and two friends also joined him for the day, along with his little sister, Rosie, who served as his “wingman.”
“Jack, you’re here because we admire you a lot. To us, you’re a hero,” Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Flowers told the boy before presenting him a small, camouflage Bible “that Airmen carry with them before they go to war.”
From there, he headed to a simulated MQ-1 Predator pod — which ended up being his favorite part of the day — where he remotely “piloted” the aircraft as his family and friends took turns as his sensor operator.
Then, it was off to see a C-21 Lear jet. Jack sat in the pilot seat and even was greeted through the headset by another pilot before he was rushed out in a fire truck to put out a “fire” on base. He saw even more planes during a noontime pizza party at the Fargo Air Museum. The day ended with a farewell ceremony that included adding Jack’s photo to a wall display dedicated to the youths who have completed a similar mission.
“He hasn’t stopped smiling since he got here,” Kristi said of Jack.
He wasn’t the only one.
“It’s incredibly rewarding for everyone involved,” Teigen said.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2012 22:18 |
| Story ID: | 84276 |
| Location: | FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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