Orange remembers Sixth World Meet

[howardwhite 6]

A group of people who live in the Orange, MA, area thought it was time to recognize the site of the first World Parachuting Championships to be held in the U.S. The Sixth World meet was held in 1962 (program page attached.)
They'll be dedicating a monument to the event Saturday, July 14. It's an impressive granite slab with a bronze plaque bearing the event logo, installed in the flagpole circle in front of the airport administration building.The granite curbing around the circle includes blocks engraved with memorials to Hal Evans, a well-known early jumper and skydiving promoter, and to Bill Hammill, a much-loved Lakewood and Orange skydiver. (Acute students of skydiving trivia will perhaps figure out why the granite circle is exactly 69 feet in diameter.)
Keynote speaker will be Lew Sanborn, D-1; others include Jacques-André Istel, D-2, and Bob Spatola, D-24, who headed the state commission that oversaw the development of facilities for the event.
At least 5 sub-100 D-license holders, all active in the meet organization, will be around for the event. The same day, Jumptown will hold its second annual Pat Gorham meet, remembering a skydiver and instructor who was also an original model for G.I. Joe.
We are publishing a limited-edition 12-page brochure about the meet with some cool old pictures and stories. And we'll have a postcard with pictures of the event on sale. For 30 days following the dedication, the Orange Post Office will hand-cancel mail (including the postcard) with a special event cancellation with the meet logo and words about the meet; if you're a stamp collector, you might want some.
All are welcome. If you want more info about the event or the postcard, PM me. And look for a story and pictures in Parachutist, probably in September.

HW

[3331 137]

What time does the show start Saturday?

I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving.

[howardwhite 6]

2 p.m.

But Jumptown is also having its Pat Gorham memorial meet and there will be lots of folks there before (and after) the ceremony on the other side of the airport.

Attached is a postcard we'll be selling at the event. If you (or we) mail it locally by the first week in August, it will be hand-canceled with a mark noting the Sixth World Meet.

HW

[3331 137]

I was there for the ceremony with living legends of Sport Parachuting.
A few pictures from my cell phone attached.

I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving.

[skypuppy 1]

How much are the pamphlets and postcards and where do we get them?

Was Daryl Henry or Floyd Martineau there? They were on the Cdn team that set a world record there (first world record ever set in open competition from what I hear). Simon Wyckham-Martin, now deceased and Jim Noble were the other team members.

If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead.
Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone

[howardwhite 6]

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How much are the pamphlets and postcards and where do we get them?

I created the pamphlets and postcards; we sold them on site ($3 for the 12-page color book, $1 for a postcard with the Sixth World meet official cancellation from the Orange Post Office.)
As soon as I figure out how to accept payment (probably PayPal), I'l let people know how to get them.

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Was Daryl Henry or Floyd Martineau there?

No. I hoped Daryl would be there, but he couldn't make it. He played a far greater role in the 1962 event than simply as a member of the CDN team.
There were, however, six <100 D license holders on site. When will that ever happen again?

I'm writing it up now for Parachutist. You can also look at (and buy) pictures by a local news photographer at http://www.athol.net/photos/Orange-1962/new_page_1.htm. And there's a good local news story at http://www.recorder.com/story.cfm?id_no=4369129

HW