BANGOR – More than 100 military family members, soldiers and veterans gathered Friday at the former Bangor Armory to show their support for the Bush-Cheney campaign.

They also were hoping to hear from former prisoner of war Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant, but Durant’s flight from Cincinnati was delayed and he was unable to make it to the 2:30 p.m. event in time to speak.

Durant was the only member of a Blackhawk helicopter crew to survive a crash and firefight in Somalia in 1993. Eighteen American soldiers were killed during the aborted covert military operation to capture a warlord. One of the men responsible for saving Durant was Special Forces Master Sgt. Gary Gordon of Lincoln, who was killed in the battle and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

A Hollywood movie, “Black Hawk Down,” depicting the battle of Somalia was released in 2001.

On Friday, in Durant’s absence, Rep. Russ Treadwell, R-Carmel, a decorated Vietnam veteran, read the former POW’s speech in support of the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Durant finally did arrive about 4:30 p.m. to sign copies of his New York Times best-selling book, “In the Company of Heroes,” and to talk with the approximately 45 people who had decided to wait.

“It’s important for me just to be part of the campaign,” Durant said in an interview later. “I think each and every one of us can make a difference.”

In the speech read by Treadwell, Durant noted that while care packages, phone calls and letters can provide soldiers with comfort when they’re fighting far away from home, “electing a strong commander in chief is lifesaving.”

Durant stressed that under the Bush administration, the U.S. would not turn control of American troops over to the United Nations, an organization he feels has become ineffective. Support from the U.N. and other nations is helpful, but the U.N. shouldn’t be in charge of U.S. military forces, he said.

“We’re still at war and what we need is consistency and a clear path. I think that’s what we’ve had [with Bush],” he said. “We’re in this thing whether people like it or not, and we need to finish it.”