December 2020 - Waittes Insurance

Snowmobile Fun and Safety

Snowmobile Fun and Safety

Those who have never tried it may wonder what is so appealing about riding a 500 pound machine that initially may be hard to control and often leaves even experienced riders stuck in snow. However, new riders are often hooked after just one run on the sled. The scenery, the variety, and the friendly people are all frequently mentioned as reasons to ride. If you are feeling skeptical, you can rent one to try it out.

If you don’t own land enough to ride on or know anyone who does, you can check out the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website linked below with a list of ten state forests with snowmobile trails. After exploring the beauty these areas of Connecticut have to offer, you may be inclined to look toward other areas of New England or head west to even more wide open spaces including Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Montana.

If you purchase your own sled, you are required to register it with the state of Connecticut unless you are only operating on property owned or leased by you (State of Connecticut DMV). Drivers are not required to have a special license to operate a sled in Connecticut, though intoxicated drivers can be prosecuted (State of Connecticut DMV).

With all the exploration, fun, and excitement to be had riding a snowmobile, it is also important to keep in mind that there are risks. Every year over 14,000 people are treated in hospitals with injuries sustained while snowmobiling, and over 200 fatalities are attributed to snowmobiling accidents in North America (Researchgate). While drugs and alcohol are frequently cited as contributing to these statistics, other sources point to lack of experience and excessive speeds (New Hampshire Snowmobile Association and NewYorkUpstate.com).

Whatever you do for fun this winter, Waitte’s Insurance Agency is ready with options for your business, home, and recreational vehicles. Give us a call when you are ready to discuss your unique insurance needs.

Connecticut DUI Law

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

NewYorkUpstate.com

New Hampshire Snowmobile Association

Researchgate

State of Connecticut DMV

December 19 is National Wreaths Across America Day

National Wreaths Across America Day - wreaths placed on veterans graves

December 19 is National Wreaths Across America Day

When Morrill Worcester was 12, he won a trip to Washington D.C. that included a trip to Arlington National Cemetery. This trip left a lasting impression on Worcester, who later founded the Worcester Wreath Company (Wreaths Across America).

At the end of the 1992 holiday season, Worcester’s company was left with a surplus of wreaths. With the memory of the trip still on his mind, Worcester decided to use this opportunity to honor the veterans buried at Arlington. Worcester, assisted by Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and others, arranged for wreaths to be placed in a section of Arlington Cemetery that was older and receiving less attention as the years passed (Wreaths Across America).

When word spread about what Worcester was doing, additional individuals and groups volunteered to help including James Prout, owner of the Blue Bird Ranch trucking company who provided transportation; volunteers from the American Legion and VFW Posts; and members of the community (Wreaths Across America).

In 2007, the Worcester family, along with various other groups and individuals, founded the non-profit Wreaths Across America organization. According to the Wreaths Across America site, “The mission of the group is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach.”

The event is currently held on the second or third Saturday in December in over 1,400 locations including all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and some overseas locations, placing hundreds of thousands of wreaths (Militarybenefits.info).

Want to know how you can get involved? Consider doing one of the following:

Start a fundraising group
Volunteer to place wreaths on veterans’ graves
Sponsor a wreath
Suggest a new location

More information about the event and opportunities to participate can be found by clicking on our links below. Waitte’s Insurance Agency is proud to be part of a community that honors the contributions of our nation’s veterans. Give us a call when you are ready to discuss your unique insurance needs.

Militarybenefits.info

Wreaths Across America

Pearl Harbor Day–A Day for All of Us to Remember

Almost everyone recognizes the words “A day that will live in infamy,” spoken by Franklin D. Roosevelt on December 8, 1941, in response to the previous day’s attack. But how much do we know about what really happened?

In the 1930s, Japan was looking to improve its economic problems by expanding into neighboring territories and taking over their import markets (History.com). The United States, at the time an ally to China, responded with economic sanctions and trade embargoes (History.com). Months of negotiations between the United States and Japan followed but to no avail.

American intelligence officials expected that if the Japanese were to attack, they would most likely do so in one of the European colonies in the South Pacific, so the Pearl Harbor naval facilities were relatively undefended and unprepared (History.com).

The attack began just before 8:00 AM on December 7. In less than two hours, 2,403 lives were lost, including over 1,100 service members aboard the U.S.S. Arizona which “was struck by several Japanese bombs and exploded in flames as it sank” (History.com “Photos and Facts). Nearly 20 American ships and over 300 airplanes were significantly damaged or destroyed (History.com).

We owe our gratitude to those who proved their valor, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice that day.

Cook Third Class Doris “Dorie” Miller on the U.SS. West Virginia took over a 50-caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, and though he lacked experience “with the weapon, managed to shoot down between four and six Japanese planes before being ordered to abandon ship” (History.com “Photos and Facts”)

Lt. John William Finn on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, secured and manned a .50-caliber machine-gun in an exposed section of a parking ramp. Lt. Finn continued to man the gun in spite of receiving multiple painful wounds and was only persuaded to leave his post when specifically ordered to do so to seek medical attention (Worldwar2history “Congressional Medals of Honor”).

Ensign Francis C. Flaherty was aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma when the order was given to abandon ship as it began to capsize. “Ens. Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life” (Worldwar2history “Congressional Medals of Honor”).

Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, onboard the U.S.S. Utah realized that the bombs and torpedoes were causing the ship to capsize. Tomich, “sacrificed his life to prevent the boilers from exploding, enabling boiler room crews to escape” (Naval History and Heritage Command).

Waitte’s Insurance Agency is proud to recognize the sacrifice of all who have served as well as those who continue to serve our country.

History.com

History.com "Photos and Facts"

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Naval History and Heritage Command

Worldwar2history