Abilene local gets to be Pilot For a Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (ACCNS) --  A local 8-year-old boy received the opportunity of a lifetime Aug. 1, when he got to be part of Team Dyess for a day. 

Jack Mareclain, along with his family and friends, participated in the Pilot For a Day program. The program, which originated at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1994 offers children with catastrophic illnesses a chance to experience a day as a pilot. 

"They call it Pilot For a Day, but its really Team Dyess Member For a Day," said Maj. Dave Henshaw, Jack's pilot host for the day. "Jack gets to see everything from blowing things up to a dog demonstration to riding in a Humvee and even experiencing the B-1." 

The program allows everyone on Dyess to give him a chance to smile and have fun for a day, Major Henshaw said. 

Jack was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of his brain stem in April 2005. Since then, he has undergone chemotherapy and gamma knife laser radiation. 

Major Henshaw and Guy Saylor, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief, met the Marcelain family at church and wanted a chance to give Jack a day where he could have fun with his family and friends. 

"We're always looking for that opportunity to help someone out," Major Henshaw said. "It brought a lot of smiles to our faces to see him have such a good time." 

The 7th Bomb Wing commander wanted to see Jack having fun.

"It's an honor to welcome Jack and his family to be a part of Team Dyess for a day," Col. Timothy Ray said. 

All of the attention given to Jack for his day seemed to make an impression on his family as well. 

"I wanted to thank everyone that made this happen today," Rob Mareclain said. 

The support from friends to help Jack get through this has been amazing, Tammy Marcelain said. 

However, the impression that mattered the most was Jack's and he had just a few words to sum it all up. 

"I loved it all," he said.