Deploying Seabee runs into former teacher at BIA stop

BANGOR – A plane carrying some U.S. Navy personnel to Iraq stopped at Bangor International Airport this fall. It was carrying a 1985 Brewer High School graduate who was surprised to run into her former teacher during the stopover.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Karen Testa, who is stationed with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18 based in Fort Lewis, Wash., walked off the plane with her comrades in arms and were met by Maine Troop Greeters lined up to welcome them.

At the end of the line of 30 or so greeters was state Rep. Charles “Dusty” Fisher, who taught history at Brewer High School for 26 years and had Testa as a student.

Fisher was re-elected during state elections on Nov. 7.

“When I came in they said ‘Welcome to Maine’ and I corrected them to say ‘Welcome back’ because I grew up here in the state and my family is still living here,” Testa said. “The lady I was talking to asked me where I went to high school, and then went and grabbed Mr. Fisher.”

Fisher said he has seen three or four former students while greeting troops over the last several years.

“It was one of the special things to happen to you,” he said afterward.

After graduating from high school, Testa went on to earn a graphics design degree from the University of Maine before transferring to The Art Institute of Seattle. She earned degrees in visual communications and graphics design in 1993 before joining the Navy in 1997.

“She said, ‘You haven’t changed a bit,'” said Fisher, who presented Testa with a Maine Patriot license plate as a souvenir.

“They were issued in the 1990s and it has a Maine flag and says ‘Maine Patriot’ on it,” Fisher said.

The unused plates were issued to the troop greeters “for the express purpose of giving them to any Maine soldier passing through the airport,” Fisher said. “We’ve given away 70 or 80 so far. It’s a nice little thing we’re able to do.

“We [troop greeters] have the joy of looking them in the eye and saying we’re going to be here when you get back,” Fisher added later. “It makes the heart feel better.”

Spc. Martin Wright, communication specialist with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18, contributed to this article.