Thread by @kambri

My deaf mom built & wired avionics for helicopters including choppers used by the first woman to fly for the #NYPD. She was once in a Budweiser commercial during the “For all you do, this Bud’s for you!” advertising phase. #WomenInspire #MothersDay #Deaf (1/7)

In ’88 Mary Lowery was the first woman assigned to the NYPD’s Aviation Unit, the same year Mom was wiring avionics for Heli-Dyne in Hurst, TX. One helicopter they built was for the NYPD and their 1st ever with a “bambi bucket”. (2/7)

When the helicopter was complete the NYPD gave mom a baseball hat w/their logo. Dad used Mom's to try to get out of a traffic ticket. I was there & acted as his interpreter. Dad told the truth to me & I interpreted a better lie to the cop. We got off.We didn’t need the hat. (3/7)

Years later, I was in NYC working with the lawyer that represented the NY Police Foundation in their precedent-setting licensing efforts. Less than two months after the license was granted, planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11 and the NYPD’s trademark became invaluable. (4/7)

Months were spent at Ground Zero confiscating counterfeit NYPD hats, t-shirts. (5/7)
nypost.com/2002/01/09/so-…

Later the only aerial pics taken on 9/11 by a photographer in an NYPD helicopter were published in the book Above Hallowed Ground in which the lawyer & his team were thanked. Funny how things go full circle. (6/7)
bookshop.org/a/3969/9780670…

I always loved that Mom didn’t have a “traditional" woman’s job. That she excelled in her industry inspired & empowered me. With each generation we can learn from & lean on each other.

Build your own helicopter and fly. (7/7)
#MothersDay

I mean...wow. The focus to make sense of this stuff.

Also, tail numbers are like serial numbers and so I'm able to track the choppers she built. One of the NYPD ones ended up in the Canary Islands for a long while doing rescues and was in Spain as of 2019.