Thoughts and Reflections: Small Organization with a Big Campaign.

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Nine months after launching the Paul Frontiero III Memorial Wig Campaign we are still on the search for a recipient.

Note: This is an update for our campaign. Previous updates can be found here and here.

 

I’m having difficulty on where to begin with my latest update. I suppose I should just start from the beginning…

My name is Michael Lindskog. I was born and raised in Massachusetts. After completing grade school I had ambitions of becoming a firefighter. I saw an opportunity in becoming an EMT as a stepping stone to reach my goal.

I was employed at a private ambulance company in Boston, MA for several years in the late 00’s. I was a bright eyed and bushy tailed kid who was ready to save the world from whatever illness or accident came about.

At this new job, I created friendships with some and maintained a friendly demeanor towards all. One of the individuals who I bonded with was Paul Frontiero III.

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Like most EMT partners we had downtime between calls and talked about life, the big and the small. Work, family, friends, future plans, crazy calls that we have had on the ambulance, sports, girls. I felt comfortable talking to him about anything, really. We would goof on each other and make each other laugh. It was very easy to get along with Paul.

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I drew inspiration from a lot of courageous and selfless individuals who I had the pleasure of working alongside in those years. To this day their influence still guides my conscience to do good, and have a lasting positive influence on my community and the world at large. It was that influence that eventually led me to Fr33 Aid and my position in our organization.

This is where the story takes a tragic turn. And to this day, it still causes emotional strife. In reality, when it happened, the news came suddenly and without notice like this transition here:

 

 

October 11, 2011 Kimberly Houghton of the New Hampshire Union Leader writes;

A local emergency medical technician died saving two women being attacked outside their apartment building, his mother said.

Paul Frontiero III, 27, was stabbed to death Sunday night; police are still searching for the man or men involved.

Cathy Frontiero of Gloucester, Mass., said her son heard a commotion outside his residence about 10:30 p.m. and went out to investigate. Police told her that two women were being harassed by a man or two men who kept driving by 13 Spruce St.

“When he went out, the guy from the car had a knife to a girl’s throat,” Cathy Frontiero said. “Paul jumped him to save the girl’s life. He died a hero.”

Police say the car sped away after the attack. Frontiero, a Londonderry High graduate who worked for EasCare Ambulance Service of Dorchester, Mass., was later pronounced dead at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. Jill Arnold, 29, and Kathryn Libby, 29, both of 13 Spruce St., also were injured in the attack. Arnold suffered minor cuts, and Libby suffered stab wounds not expected to be fatal, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

Cathy Frontiero said her son knew the women, and they all lived in the same apartment building. Police have not revealed much information to her and her husband, Paul Frontiero Jr., she said. “The police said it was a random drive-by incident,” said the victim’s mother.

While the loss of her son, a 2003 Londonderry High graduate, is unbearable, Cathy Frontiero said it is somehow comforting knowing that he potentially saved two young women.

“In his short life, he did a lot of incredible stuff. Everybody loved him,” she said. “He was such a good kid.”

Paul Frontiero III studied at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord and previously coached youth lacrosse in Gloucester, Mass.

In high school, he played lacrosse, baseball and football..

He is one of four sons, according to Cathy Frontiero. On Oct. 20, he was to leave for a medical mission to the Dominican Republic, she said, adding it would have been his second trip there to help the less fortunate.

“He liked living in New Hampshire, and never talked about the crime in Nashua” she said, explaining as a paramedic in Boston and Dorchester, Mass., he had witnessed a lot of crime.

The EMT was studying to become a paramedic, according to his mother, who said he had a passion for helping others and died doing exactly that. An autopsy was to be performed Monday afternoon.

 
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I cannot describe the feeling of loss after receiving the news of Paul’s death. Being an EMT I was used to being able to have a cold, calculated demeanor, but this was too much. The only thing I was able to do was keep my head up and just move forward. As cliche as it sounds I know that’s what he would have wanted.

As time went on I thought about how Paul would always have his hair fairly long and I would joke about how much of a hippie he was because of it. I decided once I was out of the EMS field I would grow out my hair as a memorial. It might not be the biggest thing I could do but maybe it will help someone out down the line when the time comes. Not only that, but it will give me a chance to talk to other individuals about this person who was a selfless individual even up until his last moments.

After getting out of the EMS field I knew I wanted to participate in some organization to help those who are less fortunate. I was told about an organization that was involved in the liberty community that was about helping others, it was called Fr33 Aid. I reached out to Fr33 Aid via the contact us tab. Shortly thereafter I joined up with them and put forth a big effort in helping it be a great organization to the best of my abilities.

In June of 2015 we launched the Paul Frontiero III Memorial Wig Campaign. In that post we lay out our goal and the steps on how we can achieve it.

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In the past 9 months we have reached out to hundreds of people. Every individual I have had the pleasure of talking with about this campaign has been very positive and helpful by sharing our articles with their family and friends via email/ social media/ IRC/ word of mouth.

I personally reached out to a few larger, well established organizations in the Boston, MA area and they wanted nothing to do with us. I understand their concern keeping distance from a lowly organization that deals in Bitcoin and has a roster of liberty minded individuals (sarcasm)

I tried my best to network with locals in my area and came up short. I’ve sent out updates and was compelled to create a more personal perspective post about our campaign.

I will take this latest update to media outlets and try to get more exposure to achieve our goal.

If you know anyone who is in need of a wig for reasons of medical hardship, please contact us at Fr33 Aid so we can help them out in a time of need.

Peace. Love.

-Michael Lindskog