SWAMPSCOTT — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1240 has acquired a tail rotor from Captain Jennifer Harris’ helicopter — which was signed by her entire squadron — and will be installed at the VFW in order to remember Harris in a powerful way.
Harris, a marine who died in combat in 2007, was a 1996 graduate of SHS. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2000, she went on to be a Second Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. She was also the first female pilot in the Purple Foxes Squadron.
She served as a Casualty Evacuation Pilot, flying in and out of combat areas for emergency evacuation of both injured marines and Iraqi citizens. During that time, she served three tours of duty in Iraq before being killed in action on Feb. 7, 2007, when her helicopter was shot down by enemy fire.
According to Commander of the American Legion Post 57 Steve DeFelice, the rotor managed to make its way across the country from California, where it resided for the last eight years in the bar of a fellow squadron member of Harris’, Ricky Brennen, who then donated it to the VFW in late August.
“I first heard about this eight years ago, and it never came through — we knew it was out there, so about two weeks ago, Ricky (Brennen) showed up to the Post,” DeFelice recalled. “He said, ‘I have something to show you,’ and I was kind of skeptical. … So I went out, and there it was.”
Aside from having community members take notice of the new installation, DeFelice said his hope is that Harris’ father gets to see it in full-display.
“I’m hoping that he can come down and see it, I know he doesn’t drive as much anymore, but I’m hoping he can get down here and see it,” DeFelice said.
He added that plans are being finalized to coordinate a day within the next week or so to get the rotor properly installed within the VFW, located at 8 Pine Street, in order to display the donation for the community to see.
