Museum buys walking sticks for WWII vets

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BANGOR – Galen Cole calls it “one last opportunity” for World War II veterans in Maine to obtain a free walking stick in honor of their service to their country.

The Cole Land Transportation Museum distributed some 1,200 walking sticks in 1999, manufactured and donated by Peavey Manufacturing in Eddington.

This year, the museum has purchased 500 of the walking sticks in order to give them to WWII vets who did not get one earlier.

Given how much the first recipients of the treasured sticks have enjoyed them, said Cole, the museum’s founder, “We really want to get the word out.”

And, of course, he’s hoping that the offer of the walking sticks, to be passed out later in the day at the museum, will encourage more World War II vets to take part in the parade.

The parade begins forming at 9:30 a.m. May 27 in Kenduskeag Plaza, according to parade coordinator retired Col. William Deering.

World War II participants in the parade may sign up for a walking stick at 10 a.m. under the canopy at Peoples Heritage Bank on Exchange Street, Cole said. They may park in the lot near by.

WWII vets who sign up before the parade may pick up their walking stick beginning at noon at Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road. The remainder will be distributed to other World War II vets who have not already received one, beginning at 1 p.m.

“Should we run out of sticks,” Cole said, “slips will be given and a later pickup will be assured.”

In addition, those who already have a walking stick should bring it by in order to receive a 2002 commemorative red, white and blue, reflective strip marking their participation in Memorial Day activities.

WWII vets who would find the half-mile parade route longer than they care to walk need not worry, Cole emphasized. Participants may choose to ride in buses provided by Cyr Bus, or use an electric wheelchair, if they have one. The buses will also pick up members along the route who need to ride the rest of the way.

As WWII veterans in the parade approach the reviewing stand, they will raise their walking sticks as trumpeter Hal Wheeler plays “America, the Beautiful,” Cole said. Veterans are asked to memorize the song’s lyrics and sing along:

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain;

For purple mountains majesty,

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee,

And crown thy good

With brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea!

The parade will continue up Main Street and conclude at Davenport Park. The Cyr buses will give WW II vets rides back to Exchange Street to get their cars.

“With the larger turnout anticipated for this year’s Memorial Day parade,” Cole said, “we are arranging for professionally done color pictures to be taken along the route, and in front of the reviewing stand.” Within a week, those vets may pick up free copies of each, 9 a.m.-noon, any day during the summer or fall until Nov. 11.

WWII vets in the parade also will receive a slip for a free hamburger served by the Hampden Academy Band Boosters during lunch at the museum at noontime. The public may purchase refreshments then, as well.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, coffee and brownies will be for sale by the band boosters. Proceeds will benefit the Hampden Academy band and its activities.

At 1:30 p.m. at the museum, a USO-type show with music by the Hampden Academy Jazz Band will highlight the program.

Members of the public are urged to bring lawn chairs. Veterans who bring folding chairs will be seated at the front of the audience. Admission to the museum that afternoon is free to all who attend the USO-type show.

For those who want their names engraved on their walking sticks, commercial engraver Larry Nickerson will be on site throughout the afternoon to engrave names at a discounted cost of $3.

Before the parade, 9-9:20 a.m., carillon bells at Mount Hope Cemetery will play simultaneously with carillons at American military cemeteries in Margraten, Holland; Hamm, Luxembourg; and the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. The national anthems of the three countries and “God Bless America” will be played.

World War II veterans also will lead the Brewer-Bangor Fourth of July Parade, sponsored by the Greater Bangor Kiwanis Clubs; and march in the July 27 parade marking the 175th anniversary of the town of Abbot. It is also expected that they will march in the Veterans Day parade.

For information, call the museum at 990-3600. Cole Land Transportation Museum is open daily through Nov. 11.