"Dylan Day" Means 'Make-A-Wish Mission' Fulfilled by USN

For 11-year-old Dylan Gruschow, seeing various types of Navy aircraft in San Diego and “flying” one of them was a wish come true. The fifth-grader from Lima, N.Y., who lost his lower right leg to bone cancer, had his wish fulfilled through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Terry Moran, Depot tour coordinator made arrangements.

Dylan recently spent a day at NAVAIR Depot North Island, where he and his parents and his 14-year-old sister received the red carpet treatment. Their tour also included lunch in the enlisted dining hall hosted by Capt. David Landon, North Island Naval Air Station commanding officer, and “flying” an S-3 Viking in the flight simulator.

“Once the doctor confirmed that Dylan was eligible for a wish, and after we received a confirmation visit from a social worker with the foundation, it took Dylan eight months to decide what he wanted to do,” said Dylan’s mother, Carolyn.

“Dylan has always been interested in aviation, and he couldn’t make up his mind,” said Ronald Gruschow about his son. “He has had 20 chemotherapy treatments, and we hope that the cancer will not recur.”

Dylan wears a prosthesis and walks with the aid of a crutch. “At times, he uses a wheelchair since he tires easily,” said his father, who owns a 3,000-acre farm.

During his daylong tour, Dylan sat in various aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet, an E-2 Hawkeye, and a CH-53 helicopter, all with his name stenciled on the side. He also spoke with artisans who build components for various aircraft that the Depot services. At the Test Line, he saw the equipment that aviators don before entering the cockpit. In the galley, Landon’s mess hall staff prepared Dylan’s favorite foods: pizza, chicken nuggets and steak. Mess management specialists even made Dylan his own cake.

At Sea Control Squadron 41, his father carried him up the ladder and placed him in the pilot’s seat of the S-3 Viking flight simulator. With a naval aviator as co-pilot, Dylan made several passes over the naval air station before flying out to a carrier and successfully making several traps.

“Everything is just so cool,” Dylan said. “This has been an exciting day,” as he looked at all his gifts he received along each stop of his whirlwind tour: a nylon flight jacket, a flight suit, his own “employee of the month” jacket, six ball caps, two plaques, six T-shirts, pictures, posters, a pen, models of a F/A-18 and a helicopter, and commanding officers’ coins. He will have fond memories of Dylan Day at the Depot and having his wish fulfilled. [ANN Thanks Bill Bartkus, NAVAIR Depot North Island]

Editor In-Chief's Note: While the world has been (rightly) amazed at the intelligence, professionalism, and resolve of our nation's warriors, let's not forget their immense capacity for caring and kindness... as this effort so clearly demonstrates. ANN's tips its hats to the men and women of our nation's military, and most especially, to NAVAIR Depot North Island for this truly worthwhile effort. This story made our day...

FMI: www.navair.mil