Members of Pilot International honored two members who have recently passed away by planting an Oak Tree for each member by the Miracle League Playground at the Troy Sportsplex.

Juanita Bulger and Earnest “Boy” Motes were both members of Pilot International. Motes was an honorary member and was on the board for planning to develop the Troy Sporsplex.

The playground is surrounded by 16 trees planted by Pilot International.

“Pilot International has been a great supporter of the Miracle League Playground and the Rec center,” said Dan Smith, director of Troy Parks and Recreation. “The trees will be majestic Oak Trees that will provide shade and beauty.”

Smith opened up the memorial ceremony with a Greek proverb that stated, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

“We do a memorial for any member of the Pilot club that passes away,” said Carolyn Barron, treasurer of the local club. She said that they could donate the money to charity, give the money back to Pilot International or plant an Oak Tree.

Pilot International is a service organization that works with people who have brain disorders. They serve in special education classes at local schools, send two kids to a camp each year, assist at the special Olympics, serve refreshments at the Miracle Field during the baseball season, give money to sponsor the Miracle Field and provide a $2,000 scholarship for a student going into a field of service, such as a teacher.

They host two major fundraisers each year. The first is their cow patty flop. Anyone can buy a ticket with hopes that a cow will “flop” on a number, or closest to a number that is place in the field.

Their other fundraiser is their stuffed potato dinner that is held each February. Through these fundraiser, Pilot International is able to serve in the community. According to Barron, Pilot International uses $8,000 to &$10,000 each year to serve in their programs.