These are a collection of letters from Muriel Curtis to then Senior Captain & PHMCThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the state agency that stewards the U.S. Brig Niagara and Erie Maritime Museum. The PHMC is responsible for the collect... Site Administer, Walter Rybka. Muriel is the director of the Station Maine, a youth rowing & leadership development program which operates near Rockland, ME. Station Maine formed a collaborative partnership with the FNL to bring some of her students aboard Niagara for a week long program. As these letters testify, the program had immense impacts on her students.
https://www.stationmaine.org/
Dear Walter,
I had a conversation with the principal at St. George school last week. She launched immediately into Willow’s progress. She has found her voice. She speaks up in class now. She did a slide presentation about the trip to Niagara for her entire class. And, (principal’s words, not mine), “I don’t want to say that one week can turn a kid’s life around, but that’s what I’m seeing here”.
I bought ice cream for my crew on the way home from a race last weekend. Willow took her cone from the clerk, looked her straight in the eye, and said thank you loudly enough to be heard. This is a huge turn around from the shy little girl I took to Niagara.
Willow is only one of five young and confused kids who grew on Niagara under the ever so patient tutelage of your exceptional crew, both professional and volunteer. I can think of dozens of examples, single moments, when my crew was encouraged by yours. This is strength and compassion reaching out far beyond the job description. It is never a bad thing when troubled young people find the company of compassionate adults. Add a magnificent ship with a solid work ethic and miracles happen.
Please thank Alan for the camera and socks and gloves. Zach wears those gloves every week. They make him feel special. Jason dug in his closet and found a whole bag of shoes for Cody. My kids are bonded within an inch of their lives and chomping at the bit for the next adventure. You gave them that. Thank you so much.
Hugs,
Muriel Curtis
Director, Station Maine
Dear Walter,
For five years now I have been taking the young high school rowers of Station Maine to spend a week on Niagara. I suppose by now I should be used to seeing the change that comes over these kids, but it never gets old.
Surrounding this vessel you have something very unique and very precious. There is an entire community of people, young and old, who are loving life and unafraid to show it. They are committed to the highest level of work ethic, to the honor of their vessel, and to each other. They are committed to education. In this community young hopefuls are made welcome. They are taught simply by infectious example that mutual respect is life as usual and that hard work is a joyous norm of the day to day. My young rowers are made welcome into this community, and it is my personal pleasure to watch them blossom.
I need to tell you about one young lad in particular. He is young for his age and comes from a family where anger is simply the way one communicates. He had never had a non-violent male role model ‘til he came here. I have had the privilege of watching him from day to day come out of his shell and let down the walls. Slowly over the course of the week he has learned to make eye contact, to speak out so he is heard, to hold doors, to say please and thank-you, and to help his shipmates without being asked. He has learned to smile. All of this in a single week simply through being in the company of your vessel and crew. Although we must take him back to a less than functional home life, he has learned this week that there is a bigger world beyond his former horizons towards which he can aspire.
We can rarely know the back-stories of the young crews we nurture. We can never know what difference we are actually making in this world. I can only promise you that, at least for the crews of Station Maine, the Flagship Niagara and her crew are changing lives. Thank you so much for what you have given us.
Sincerely,
Muriel Curtis
Director, Station Maine
Dear Walter,
All kids change in their teen years, but watching Nick grow from year to year on Niagara is something pretty satisfying. He has grown from the smart mouthed little kid who I would not permit to join us in Erie to a young man who I have learned to depend on within my own program. He teaches the younger crew members here with a patience and gentleness that I know he learned from your crew. “Real men” don’t talk in Nick’s house. They just yell. He has learned from your crew a new standard of manhood.
His skill in researching dirty ditties has grown as well. Thanks Pip.
This happens every year. I bring you kids who have had very little opportunity in life and you give me back kids who are stronger, kinder, and more confident. They pass on to the younger crew members that kindness, that work ethic, that joy of living that they learn in one short week on Niagara, and the world becomes a better place. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Muriel Curtis
Director, Station Maine
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