A unique opportunity will be offered those who attend the Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 30, in Bangor

Billed as “Veterans Helping Veterans,” former Bangor Daily News colleague Ken Buckley wrote, “veterans statewide” have joined with Bangor area merchants, businesses and private citizens to host Bangor’s first Veterans Helping Veterans SOS Breakfast, after the parade at Davenport Park on Main Street in Bangor.

Donations will be accepted for this meal that Buckley describes as “a soldier’s delight … one of the favorite meals of all veterans.”

In case you wonder what’s being served, Buckley reports “here is a golden opportunity to sample” one of the military’s favorite dishes called SOS, which most people know as creamed beef on toast.

This fun meal will provide those present with a greater opportunity to help a member of the military and his family.

The breakfast “is being served as a gesture of support” for Sgt. Harold Gray of Prospect, a member of the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion who was injured while serving in Iraq when insurgents attacked his convoy.

Gray is hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington, D.C., where his wife, Laurie Gray, “his constant companion plans to remain with him until he is able to return home,” Buckley wrote.

All donations for the breakfast will benefit the Gray family.

The support for this fund-raiser has been wonderful, Buckley said.

Fairfield resident and chef Jeff Pelotti of the MANG 112th Medical Company has agreed to “cook the mammoth breakfast.”

Veterans obtained donations of food from area businesses, and other businesses and individuals have made donations of cash and gift certificates to assist the family.

Anyone who would like to help prepare, serve or help with the benefit can call Buckley, 942-6501, or Phil Eckert, 825-3722.

If you cannot attend but want to contribute, checks with “SOS Breakfast” written on the memo line can be mailed to Lawrence Stanchfield, 586 Deerfield Drive, Hermon 04401.

Buckley said the response to this project has been outstanding, and he was especially pleased with Pelotti’s offer of assistance.

“When a buddy is down, it’s up to us to help,” Buckley wrote. “Sgt. Gray and his family need all the support we can muster. Evidently, Bangor’s area businesses feel the same way, as they have opened their stores, wallets and hearts to assist.”

But the best of all, the Korean War veteran wrote, is “having all veterans participate as a team,” which is why he refers to this project as “Veterans Helping Veterans.”

The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 30, beside Peoples Heritage Bank on Exchange Street in Bangor.

The Brewer High School music department and Brewer Music Association invite you to attend the Fifth annual All-City Band Concert and Spaghetti Dinner beginning with the meal at 5 p.m. followed by the free concert at 7 at Brewer High School.

Admission for dinner is $5 for adults, $3 for children and seniors, or $15 per family.

Joy Royal-Nevers of the BMA reports all proceeds will benefit the students who will perform next year in Washington, D.C.

On behalf of Bangor Community Theatre, its secretary, Stephanie Erb, hopes the public will enjoy its coming presentation of the Cole Porter classic, “Kiss Me Kate.”

The curtain goes up on this musical at 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

Tickets can be obtained by calling 581-1755 or online at www.ume.maine.edu/mca.

Nita Moser of the public relations department of Cary Medical Center in Van Buren, e-mailed recently that she has supported the work of March of Dimes for years because she has “several family members who have suffered serious birth defects.”

For that reason, she hopes you will participate in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, which begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 22, at Riverside Park in Presque Isle.

“But if you cannot walk,” she wrote, “I hope you might consider supporting me as I walk.” To do so, log on to her walker Web site at www.walkamerica.org/nmoser.

If you have questions, you can call her at 496-1158 or e-mail nmoser@carymed.org.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.