FARGO, N.D. — A young Frazee, Minn., boy will have the chance to be a “Pilot for a Day” at the North Dakota Air National Guard. Garrett Beckwith, 5, has been fighting cancer for nearly six months.
On Friday, Aug. 17, he’ll be promoted to an honorary general in the North Dakota National Guard. He’ll receive his own flight suit and have the opportunity to experience a wealth of activities with the Happy Hooligans — from a flight simulator to an airplane hangar to the fire hall.
Garrett was diagnosed Feb. 27 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and began chemotherapy that day. Doctors say he will have to undergo chemotherapy treatments for another three years. In April, Garrett came down with pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and a fungal infection in his lungs. Only 10 percent of children live through that form of pneumonia. He was placed on a ventilator and the family was called to say goodbye. Garrett fought back and was released from the hospital after 21 days. Two weeks later at a routine chemotherapy treatment, he went into epileptic shock with a 105.9 degree fever. Doctors said Garrett would not make it to the next day, yet in four days he was at home and re-growing the hair he had lost, his parents say.
The Pilot for a Day program honors a child who is fighting or has overcome a life-threatening illness or condition. The first event took place in 2005, but the program needed to be put on hold during the 119th Wing’s transition in flying missions a few years ago. The program resumed last year, and Garrett will be the fifth “pilot” honored since then.
He will be bringing 10 friends and family members with him for Friday’s activities.
WHO: Garrett Beckwith, 5, of Frazee, Minn.
WHAT: Pilot for a Day program
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17
WHERE: North Dakota Air National Guard, 1400 32nd Ave. N., Fargo, N.D.
MEDIA: The day’s schedule follows. Please call Amy Wieser Willson at 701-451-2273 (office) or 701-412-6895 (cell) to arrange an escort onto base 15 minutes prior to the activity you would like to cover. Media are welcome to stay throughout the event, as well.
8:30 a.m. – Security Forces greet Garrett and friends at the front gate
8:40 a.m. – Breakfast in the Frame Room and Garrett changing into his flight suit
9:10 a.m. – official welcome from the Wing commander, Garrett’s commissioning to the rank of general
9:30 a.m. – MQ-1 Predator Mission Aircrew Training System demonstration
9:50 a.m. – egress training for flights
10:10 a.m. – C-21 Lear jet static tour in the hangar followed by an emergency egress by 119th Wing fire trucks
10:45 a.m. – fire department demonstration
Noon – pizza party at the Fargo Air Museum
1 p.m. – farewell
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized nearly 3,900 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, nearly 200 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while about 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.
Photos
Download archived photos of past Pilot for a Day participants on Flickr.
Sean Clementich - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/sets/72157624644625083/with/4910909413/
Kristopher Young - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/sets/72157623542793410/with/4402409494/
Jack Gellner - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/sets/72157629439984647/with/6778237250/
Videos
See video of past Pilot for a Day participants on YouTube.
Jack Gellner - http://youtu.be/6qxraj6ERvU
Evan Krogen - http://youtu.be/vdh2mgk4CAY
For high-definition b-roll, contact Master Sgt. Eric Johnson with the Public Affairs Office at 701-451-2259.