Cole museum to honor Vietnam veterans with bronze statue

BANGOR – For years, Cole Land Transportation Museum has been known for its World War II commemorations on Memorial Day, May 31.

This year the tradition continues, and it will be special. In addition to the ceremonies honoring World War II and Purple Heart veterans, bronze statues of three figures will be unveiled at the Vietnam Memorial on museum grounds at 405 Perry Road.

Gov. John E. Baldacci will announce the dedication and place the wreath at the Maine Vietnam Veterans Memorial with Phyllis Wardwell of Bucksport, whose son Eric Michael, whom the family called Mike, was killed in Vietnam. A picture of Wardwell was used as a model for the soldier helping the wounded GI in the memorial.

Mrs. Wardwell has already seen the bronze work sculpted by Glenn and Diane Hines and erected months ago on the grounds of the museum. The figures comprise a nurse, a wounded soldier and a third soldier.

The sculpture of Mrs. Wardwell’s son was modeled on a photograph of Wardwell on patrol, she said, adding she felt overwhelmed at the thought her son would represent the more than 50,000 American soldiers killed in the war.

But she said of the monument, “I think it’s very nice. At a distance it looks like Michael.”

Wardwell’s mother will be joined at the dedication by his three siblings – Donna Wilson and Joel and Jeffrey Wardwell and their families.

The Old Town High School jazz ensemble will lead off activities at 12:15 p.m. Memorial Day.

Don Colson will be master of ceremonies, and Maj. Richard Dickinson will give the invocation and benediction.

The National Anthem will be sung by the Washington County Children’s Chorus, which is planning a trip next month to Luxembourg, where they will continue learning about World War II. The children already have visited the Cole Museum and interviewed veterans about the war.

Museum founder Galen Cole will deliver “A Challenge to Veterans.”

Russell Mattson Jr., state commander of the Maine Military Order of the Purple Heart, will place the wreath at the Purple Heart Monument, while the governor will place the wreath at the WWII Memorial.

During the second part of the ceremonies, Cole will explain how the Vietnam Memorial came to be.

Cole recently recalled a meeting at the museum in 2002 after some youngsters had interviewed war veterans.

Mattson had said at the time, “The Cole Transportation Museum in Bangor has become the melting pot in Maine for military veterans and also for the thousands of Maine schoolchildren who come to interview them each year to learn about patriotism and freedom and the price we and our country have paid for it.

“We Vietnam veterans are privileged to participate in the museum’s teaching efforts,” Mattson said, “and are honored to be memorialized on the museum lawn along with veterans of World War II and a memorial to veterans who proudly wear the Purple Heart.”

Galen Cole added, “It was then that Gary Cole – my son, and as of May 4 the new president of our Cole Foundation and Museum – and I, museum founder, decided to add the three-person, larger-than-life bronze statue.”

Bangor Mayor Dan Tremble will deliver a proclamation from the city of Bangor.

Also dedicated during the ceremonies will be a Huey helicopter, a U.S. Army tank and a granite monument with the names of the 339 Mainers killed in Vietnam.

Participants will include U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud; John Cashwell, city councilor and Vietnam pilot; pilots Tom Stryker and Bob Varney, who flew the Huey helicopter; and Lt. Col. Charles Knowlen of Eddington, who led an infantry company and fought with M-60 tanks.

The youth chorus will sing “God Bless America,” and Old Town trumpeters Adam Avery and Amy McFalls will play taps.