Honoring our Veterans Bangor parade calls up memories of veterans

BANGOR – Among the many people who turned out Thursday to watch the Veterans Day parade wind through Brewer and Bangor and to listen to the bands play patriotic music were the Chaloults, a Hermon couple who both hail from military families. With a daughter in the parade, they staked out their seats early across from the reviewing stand.

“I always reflect on my father, who served in the Pacific in World War II,” Tom Chaloult said.

Sitting in canvas folding chairs and holding American flags, the couple recalled war tales their fathers told them.

“We have a lot of stories,” Page Chaloult said. After coming to Bangor from Bangkok, Thailand, in 1965, Page’s father served as the last commander at Dow Air Force Base before it closed. A 27-year U.S. Air Force pilot, he flew B-17s in Europe during World War II.

“My whole history is as a military dependent, so the parades are important to me,” she said.

Thursday’s parade was particularly special for the Chaloults. Their daughter Jennifer, a Hermon High School freshman, was marching in the band for the first time.

“Tom and I grew up miles apart, yet our value systems are both the same,” Page said. “We both have the same regard and respect for veterans.”

During his speech, Gov. John Baldacci noted that same respect.

“God bless those that have put their lives on the line for all of us,” Baldacci said just before three military helicopters flew in formation over Main Street. The crowd applauded the flyover loudly, and enthusiastically greeted veterans from all wars and branches of the military as they marched down the street.

Tom Chaloult said the current situation in the world and especially in Iraq gave people a lot to think about this Veterans Day.

“I’ve had people say that if you don’t support the war effort, you’re not patriotic and that bothers me,” Tom Chaloult said. “I support the troops. I’d love to see them all come home healthy and the whole thing be over with.”

Stephen Lane traveled from Franklin to watch the parade and remember the troops of wars past and present. He summed up the meaning of the day in one sentence.

“It’s remembering what’s going on right now in the world and saying thanks to everybody that’s served,” he said.

His thoughts were echoed in the Rev. Robert Carlton’s invocation reminding people that the freedoms they enjoy come at a cost.

“Remember always that we must never forget the price of freedom,” he said.