BANGOR – For some veterans walking along the Bangor Veterans Day parade route, the welcoming applause and warm smiles from onlookers who lined the streets to downtown was their first true homecoming.

“We weren’t welcomed home,” said Vietnam veteran Wayne Cartier after the parade. But the Orrington resident, who served in the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon with the U.S. Air Force during the war, said the crowd’s reception during Saturday’s parade warmed his heart. “It does make you feel a hell of a lot better,” he said

A total of 37 Vietnam War veterans walked in the parade, some for the first time. They followed others from the Korean War and World War II who led the procession.

Veteran organizer Galen Cole, who served in Europe during World War II, said for many the hidden scars of war have kept them from participating in the patriotic celebration that is held in their honor.

“This is the largest group of veterans for a Veterans Day parade ever,” he said while the group gathered in Brewer, where the parade started Saturday morning. “We have dozens of Korean vets and Vietnam vets that have joined us. These are people who never participated before and are here for the first time.”

Cole, who is the founder of the Cole Land Transportation Museum, thanked people along the entire route for their support as he helped to lead the veterans along Wilson Street in Brewer, across the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge into Bangor, and down Main Street before disbanding on Exchange Street.

The people who lined the parade route were of all ages, and they thanked the former soldiers by clapping as they passed, waving flags, smiling and standing with their hands over their hearts as the national anthem and taps played.

All of the “World War II’ers,” as Cole calls them, and veterans from the Korean War carried walking sticks provided by the museum and Peavey Manufacturing. Vietnam vets are to receive their walking sticks at Memorial Day events in the spring.

All who walk do so “in memory of their [military] buddies and the people that paid with their lives,” said Cole, who lost five close friends from his 5th Armored Division unit on April 2, 1945.

“I changed seats with William Galladay,” who always wanted a particular seat on the transport, Cole said, remembering how Galladay perished instead of him. Recalling Galladay and other lost comrades, he added, “They never had a chance. Some never graduated from high school.”

The parade is one of three held annually that World War II veterans use as an unofficial reunion, according to Army Air Corps veterans Charles Titcomb, who served as a teletype operator during World War II, and Charlie Colburn, who was part of the military police at the time.

“I look forward to seeing everybody on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day,” Titcomb said.

Colburn added: “I enjoy being with the vets and meeting everybody. That’s what this is all about.”

As always, at the front of the veterans group were couples where both spouses had served in World War II, including Navy veterans Barbara and Frank Jewell of Hampden, who wore matching red-white-and-blue jumpsuits Saturday.

Numerous marching bands, entertainers and floats passed the viewing stand in West Market Square in downtown Bangor, where Gov. John Baldacci, the parade’s honorary grand marshal, stood. During a short speech, the governor called veterans past and those now serving “true heroes,” and asked residents to support them and the military family members who wait at home for their loved ones to return.

Firetrucks, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts, along with antique cars, tractors big and small, minibikes and a beauty queen were part of the nearly two-hour parade.

During the parade, the Air National Guard conducted flyovers with a KC-135 tanker and three helicopters in honor of all veterans who have served and those who continue to serve.

Charlie Knowlen, a Vietnam War veteran, said that to see his brothers in arms finally accepted and welcomed home in Bangor was amazing. Knowlen, who has two U.S. Army tours under his belt, is an Eddington resident and first-time parade walker.

“I feel warm, I really do,” he said as he turned the corner on Exchange Street in Bangor, the end of the parade route. “It’s a great day.”

Many veterans from Knowlen’s era have never felt good about being soldiers of the controversial war. Returning troops from the Asian war zone often were attacked, verbally and physically, by their fellow Americans for their service in Vietnam, he said.

“For years, I’ve been hoping more [Vietnam veterans] would come out of the woodwork,” Knowlen said, adding that the parade would not be his last. “Every year, we hope to get a few more guys out.”

Brewer resident Mike Weaver, who brought his son and nephew to watch the parade, said times have changed and all veterans, especially Vietnam vets, are getting the respect they deserve.

“They don’t protest no more; they have troop greeters,” he said. “[Veterans] are getting the welcome they should have.”

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KATE COLLINS

Frank and Barbara Jewell (from right) of Hampden pause on Main Street with their fellow WWII veterans for the playing of the national anthem.