Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,
Titled the “World War II Veterans Portrait Project”  the free exhibit, is taking place at City Hall, in the Kyrouz Auditorium. 
This is an inspiring  project that was put together by Jason Grow, a prominent portrait photographer that we are so lucky to have in Gloucester!  59 WWII Veterans from Cape Ann will be featured; the portraits are all black-and-white and each 16 by 24 inches. 
There are four women in these portraits and Jason admits that he wish he could have found more to represent.  As the male soldiers were dubbed the “Greatest Generation”, I think that the women of the WWII era should be known as being from “The Gracious Generation”.  These women fought hard in and out of the military.  As a caregiver myself, I have seen so many of these women caring for their husbands.  They do this with poise, dignity, and without ever complaining; women that all future generations should aspire to emulate.
Here are two photos of my father, Ralph Hendrickson, who will be one of the 59 honored in the display.  One photo here shows him as a 19 year old just entering the army.  The other is Ralph 81 years later, still a humble and grateful man.
Cheers to these fine men and women!
All the Best,
Cindy Hendrickson

Rotary Club of Gloucester Supports International Surgeries

The Rotary Club of Gloucester recently sponsored a medical mission to the Philippines through Rotaplast International, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, CA. The club’s support allowed for 122 surgical procedures to be performed on patients in Cebu City, on a south central island in the Philippines. Medical treatments focused on surgically repairing cleft lips, cleft palates and dental work for patients aging three months to 35 years. Medical Director Evelyn Abad explained, “Often children and adults with these deformities are shunned by their community. We give them a second chance to smile.”

The medical team consisted of eight non-medical volunteers from Rotary Clubs in the Greater Boston area as well as a team of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses and Rotarians from California, Washington, Hawaii, and South Dakota. With three operating tables in use, the team was able to complete 122 surgical procedures and over 300 dental procedures. All medical treatment was free of charge to patients and many travelled up to six hours to visit the hospital in the central part of Cebu City. The team was supported locally by Filipino volunteers from the Rotary Club of Cebu City Port Center.

For photos and videos of the medical mission, visit www.rotary7930.org  and click “2015 Rotaplast Mission” under the Club Information section.

About Rotaplast
Rotaplast International, Inc. is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities. Working with local professionals, Rotarians, and other organizations, Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of these children and adults. Rotaplast supports education and research towards prevention of cleft lip and/or palate. Their aim is to help local professionals build sustainable models for the care of these patients. For more information on Rotaplast, a non-profit charity, visit www.rotaplast.org

Nearly 190 patients came to be seen by the Rotaplast team on the hospital’s 5th floor which was set up as a temporary staging area for the patients.

Cleft lip surgeries required the patients to stay in the hospital two nights.

3-month old Kobe was the youngest patient treated this year