Mary Ellen Martel
My father has been gone for over 20 years, so never knew of my CAP affiliation. As a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, I often wonder what he would think of his little girl being a Civil Air Patrol member today!
With my interest in photography and experiences in writing press releases for other organizations, being squadron Historian and Assistant Public Affairs Officer is a good fit. The history of the 038th is a rich one and I am enjoying organizing and preserving the photos, articles and memories that tell our story. In addition to my volunteer work with the Civil Air Patrol I am also a member of the Southwest Harbor Fire Department and, no surprise, I serve as Department Photographer.
I came to Civil Air Patrol in a round-about way after being asked by a senior member if I would take photos of some cadets at their first power orientation flights. Photography is my great passion and I jumped at the chance to photograph something new. Two things hooked me that day. One was the chance that I could learn to be an Airborne Photographer with CAP. Photography and flying?! Could it get any better? The second thing that drew me in was seeing how dedicated to creating a top-notch program for youth the senior members were. I wanted to be part of that.
I grew up in the tiny town of Frankfort, Maine. With a population that hovered around 600, how lucky I was to experience an old fashioned life in a small town! My father was a World War II vet and a stone cutter; my mother was an at home mom who kept the cookie jar filled. We lived beside a small stream where I was allowed to row our old wooden boat all by myself, as long as I was wearing my life jacket. I played in the woods with the kids next door, climbed trees and read books under spruce branches that touched the ground and made little caves. I feel as if I have granite in my bones and water in my veins, which meant that Mount Desert Island was a perfect fit when I moved here with my husband Jack in 1972. It was then that I began 40 years of volunteering with various organizations. I have been a Little League coach, church school teacher, camp director, Girl Scout leader & curriculum trainer and held many other volunteer positions at the local, state and regional levels. Nearly all of my volunteer work has been with children.
With the arrival of our daughter Jenn in 1985 I became an at-home mom until she went to public school in 1992 and I began working at Harbor House Children's Center. Twenty years later I have gone from teacher's aide to classroom teacher to Center director, a position I have now held for over ten years. We work with families of children from 18 months to first grade, striving to provide the best early care and education possible for the leaders of tomorrow. It is delightful and exhausting work, but every day I receive of lots of hugs!
