Pull Benefits
After eight years of participating in the Special Olympics Plane Pull, Vincent Avoletta wanted nothing more than to be stretching out and gearing up with the rest of the Weehawken Local 15 team. But when it came time to take position on the line, Team Captain Avoletta could only direct his members to their places, stand back and hope for the best.
Just before the horn sounded, Avoletta felt the urge to jump on the line and pull. But he knew he couldn’ t risk causing any more injury to his knee.
“ This is the first time in eight years that I can’ t physically participate. I had the itch, but I knew I couldn’ t do it,” shared Avoletta
, insisting that if it weren’ t for having knee surgery just a few weeks prior, he would have been right there with Local 15, taking his usual position at the front of the line.
Though nothing compares to withstanding the short stint of pain and strife to pull the 93,000-pound aircraft alongside your brothers and sisters, Avoletta stood back to witness the strength of Local 15 from a different point of view.
The team captain knew that the rope was in good hands as he watched Local 15 members Melissa Maione and Vicky Remache stand in at the front of the line while Shawn Peacock stood solid as the anchor of the team.
“ My team went out there and did what they had to do,” Avoletta proudly stated.“ It’ s very humbling to be able to put in the effort for such a good cause and physically be here to observe the Special Olympic athletes participate as well.” d
STRONGER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
During the next couple of weeks, the Toms River plane pull email chain, including Local 137 Chief Mitchell A. Little, was populated with instructional tug-of-war videos and plane pull strategies. There was no question that Local 137 was returning to the 21st Annual Special Olympics Plane Pull for the second time. And this time, they were bringing back a trophy.
The team’ s purpose behind their pull to raise money for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run($ 4,000 to be exact) was unwavering. But on Sept. 29, the day before the event, the desire to win became a necessity when they heard about the death of one of their faithful members, Officer Brett Hansen, who passed away after a long, hard-fought battle recovering from extensive injuries sustained in an off-duty motor vehicle accident on Jan. 4.
“ It’ s just a very surreal moment when you find out one of your coworkers lost his life,” explained Local 137 Officer Walter Herman.“ That could happen to any of us.”
Local 137 members had Hanson on the mind as they approached the tarmac runway for pull time. Underneath the gray clouds that blanketed the morning sky, Robertazzi called the team for a final huddle before members took their places on the rope. Putting their hands together, they all agreed, this pull was for Hanson.
Following their strategy, Local 137’ s“ biggest and burliest” member was the first to take his spot on the rope as the anchor of the team. That was Herman, a seasoned powerlifter and former college football player. Once Herman was in position, pulling the rope tight, the rest of the team followed his lead.
“ We got set up on the rope, and then we pulled for Brett … as hard as we possibly could,” Bachonski emphasized.
32 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ OCTOBER 2017
The 20 officers dug their feet into the tarmac and leaned back. Their knuckles bulged white under their protective gripgloves as they put every bit of strength into the effort to move that plane. It was an excruciating burst of power. And in just 6.89 seconds, it was all over.
For the remainder of the event, Toms River Local 137 had become to team to beat. But none of the other 53 teams did.
Hours later, Bachonski’ s phone vibrated with the news and he hollered in celebration that Local 137 pulled off the victory. It wasn’ t just the win that made him celebrate, but the pride in his Local’ s teamwork and show of strength to honor the Special Olympics and their fellow brother.
“ We are stronger together,” Bachonski confirmed. d