Pages 12 &13
Thursday, August 10, 2023 ~ Volume 68 ~ Issue Number 42 ~ $1.00
Takes to the Skies
Gabreski’s First STEM Camp a Success!
View of Southampton from the gunner’s seat of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter (Inset: The HC-130J Combat King II) By Matt Meduri While Long Island is known for its many hidden gems - the Island itself is often considered one - most residents are aware of these and it’s up to the tourists to discover the nuances of our home. Suffice it to say, it’s unusual for residents, many of whom are born-and-raised Long Islanders, to discover hidden gems of the place they have called home for so long. One unique characteristic of the Island is the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard (ANG) Base in Westhampton Beach, just ten minutes south of Riverhead. A mere mention of this base usually results in a local’s surprise that such an asset exists in relatively plain sight. However, Gabreski is not just an Air National Guard Base; it’s also the home of the 106th Rescue Wing (RQW), who provides worldwide combat search and rescue coverage for the U.S and its allied forces and also provides peacetime humanitarian search and rescue support in addition to disaster relief for federal and state authorities. The brave men and women of the base fulfill the roles of pararescuers, pilots, firemen, mechanics, and logisticians who successfully carry out operations that can result in a matter of life and death when called upon at a moment’s notice. Continued on page 3
FULL STORIES ON:
Connetquot’s ESY Program Page 10
High Cost of Medical Malpractice Page 18
Angels On Long Island Page 22
Campers on the loading ramp of the HC-130J Combat King II
Credit: Matt Meduri
The Messenger