Chalk + Ink: Episode 76; Stealing Moments and Giving Back with Andrew Hackett

Patrick Clarke Cumming

It's Memorial Day, and Andrew and I are honoring Sergeant Patrick Clarke Cumming.

Andrew is an incredibly generous, kind hearted, hardworking human being who always tries to make a positive difference in our writing and teaching community. He and I would like to dedicate this episode to Sergeant Patrick Clarke Cumming who was also an incredibly generous, kindhearted human being who worked hard to make a positive difference in our town, state and in our nation. 

During the episode, we talked about how Andrew’s wife, Kerry, is also a teacher. Kerry taught Patrick first grade. Like Andrew, Kerry is also an incredibly kindhearted, hardworking human being. Even though Patrick was only in first grade, Patrick sensed he could trust Kerry, and he confided in her that he couldn’t read and only seemed like he knew how to read because he memorized pages in books. Kerry knew just how to get him help and set him up for reading services with Annette Markel. By the time second grade rolled around, Annette told Patrick’s parents she could no longer work with him because Patrick had become an advanced reader. Patrick’s parents, Bob and Melissa, are incredibly grateful to Kerry and Annette because they ignited Patrick’s passion for reading. As an adult, Patrick read voraciously, studying world conflict and military history. To celebrate Patrick, Bob, Melissa, and Patrick’s siblings, Jack and Megan, are reading Patrick’s book collection.

Back when Andrew and Kerry knew Patrick, Patrick had a mop of gorgeous golden curls that would have made Curlilocks proud. Even though Andrew taught Patrick’s twin brother Jack, and not Patrick, Andrew made sure to take Patrick underneath his wing at recess because Andrew, like Patrick, is someone who always goes above and beyond.

I first met Patrick when he was six-years-old, and had the honor of watching him grow up and begin to serve our community in amazing ways. He accomplished more in his twenty-three years than many of us accomplish in a lifetime. I’ll share a few of his accomplishments here. He received the following military decorations: Army Achievement Medal for Operation Boston Hope, Army Commendation Medal for Operation Capitol Response, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal COVID, Army Service Ribbon, DCNG Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon, Massachusetts Service Medal, and Massachusetts Emergency Service Ribbon.

Patrick always gave back to his community. In addition to serving in the military, he was a trained EMT and a firefighter. A few weeks before he died, Patrick rescued a stranded hiker from Leominster State Forest.

As you go about your day, please keep Patrick in your mind and think about how you can help others. Perhaps you can be more vulnerable on the page or reach out to a newbie writer. Maybe you can dig deep and give a student who you know needs it a little extra tlc. If you're feeling extra generous, please consider helping me raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I'll be walking 16 miles overnight on June 22nd. Click here to help stop the spread of this disease. But most of all, please be kind and gentle to yourselves and those around you.

In the soundbite above, Andrew talks about his amazing blog Backstory. Check it out!

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Andrew Hacket talks about stealing moments to write, giving back to the community and being true to ourselves. 

As I mentioned above, Andrew is incredibly kind and generous. So, if you leave a comment below you will be entered to choose between a virtual classroom visit, a picture book critique, or a free book. That's hard to beat.

This is our last interview for the 2023-2024 season. I hope to have the top ten writing tips to launch us into a creative summer ready for you by June 14th, which is the end of my school year. Until then, take care.