Museum to sponsor veterans’ D.C. trip

BANGOR – The Cole Land Transportation Museum is organizing a one-day trip to Washington for 130 World War II veterans, other veterans and associated volunteers to visit the World War II Memorial on Sept. 23.

Museum founder Galen Cole, who has been at the forefront of efforts to honor veterans for many years, has been working on the trip for the past year, but couldn’t find a plane.

Finally he asked Pan Am President David Fink, and his fellow veteran came through.

Fink promised a 727 from the Portsmouth, N.H.-based airline to carry 130 people from Bangor International Airport to Washington and back.

Cole delivered the news last week to a group of men and women at the museum who are “Ambassadors of Patriotism,” veterans from several wars who volunteer to be interviewed by students in grades six through 12 about their service.

“It took time for this most generous offer to sink in,” Cole said, “but it became clear that we could now invite additional patriots, including former military personnel who regularly participate as troop greeters for soldiers whose flights leave and return to the United States through Bangor International Airport, as well as others involved in communicating patriotism.”

“On behalf of our airline and its employees,” Fink said in a statement, “we are pleased to be able to provide these members of America’s Greatest Generation with the opportunity to visit the memorial which commemorates their struggle, sacrifice and victory.”

Some attending the announcement said they hoped to go on the trip, including Bill Knight of Bradford, who is both a World War II veteran of the campaign in North Africa and an organizer of troop greeters at BIA; and Dick Gifford of Brewer, a member of the Military Order for the Purple Heart for those wounded in action, and veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam.

The trip will include visits to landmarks such as the Washington Monument, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam Memorial.

The passenger list for the trip won’t be completed until after the Sept. 2 commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The museum is organizing a small parade that morning for World War II veterans to march or ride down Main Street and an afternoon concert at the museum on Perry Road.

Tickets will be given to World War II veterans who participate in the parade or attend the concert, Cole said. Those who take part in both will receive two tickets for the drawings, which will award eight seats on the plane.

There’s no need to sign up to march, he emphasized. “World War II veterans can just show up for the parade” on Sept. 2.

Others on the passenger list will include veterans from the interview program, who largely are from World War II; a number of regular volunteers at the museum, many of them veterans; and several troop greeters.

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation are being invited as well. In addition, Cole hopes to have room for World War II vets who sign up a new school – one that hasn’t taken part before – to come to the museum for the interview program with veterans.

Cole was very pleased that William S. Cohen School in Bangor has signed up to bring 60 pupils.

Social studies teacher Philippa Harvey brings youngsters from Center Drive School in Orrington year after year.

“They’re totally enthralled with the veterans they interview,” she said. “They have a different feeling about patriotism after they come here.”

For information about the Sept. 2 commemoration and Cole Land Transportation Museum activities, call 990-3600.