Another Field Day has come and gone, and just like amateurs all over the country, those who activated W1AW not only took part, but had lots of fun during the 24 hour event. According to W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, W1AW made 1079 contacts using CW, SSB and RTTY on 160-2 meters. "The last time W1AW broke the 1000+ QSO mark on Field Day was back in 2005 when 1100 QSOs were made. But band conditions were slightly better then and we had more operators on hand," Carcia said.

Along with Carcia, ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X; DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L; DXCC Assistant Carol Michaud, KB1QAW, and Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, put W1AW on the air for Field Day. Michaud's 9 year old daughter Lexie got her first taste of ham radio, getting over a case of "mic fright" to get on the air, too.

This was Kutzko's first Field Day at W1AW. "Field Day is always fun," he said, "but to be a part of W1AW during the ARRL's biggest on-air event was a real honor. The mixture of experienced and newly licensed operators sharing the fun and working hundreds of stations is the essence of Elmering in Amateur Radio."

Field Day is always the fourth full weekend in June. In 2009, it will be June 27-28.