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BANGOR – There have been walking sticks for World War II veterans and Korean War veterans, but so far not for vets of the Vietnam War.
That will change on Memorial Day, when Vietnam veterans who walk or ride in the May 28 parade at 10:30 a.m. in Bangor receive their own specially designed walking sticks.
The yellow, green and red color scheme for the decals on the sticks was suggested by Wayne Cartier, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, according to Galen Cole, founder of the Cole Land Transportation Museum, which first began the walking stick program with Peavey Manufacturing in 1999.
The program worked great in getting World War II vets to turn out for parades, where they lift the Maine-made wooden walking sticks high as they pass the reviewing stand, Cole said. Distribution of blue Korean War walking sticks last Veterans Day also was popular.
Volunteers from the museum are working hard to get out the word to Vietnam veterans around the state that they should bring some form of ID and come to Exchange Street to form up for the parade at 9:15 a.m. that Monday.
The World War II veterans, now in their 80s, are fewer in number each year, Cole explained, and the walking stick program is an effort to encourage younger veterans to participate in activities on patriotic holidays.
All veterans who take part in the parade – whether walking, using a wheelchair or riding a bus provided by First Student – will receive a ticket for a free grilled burger by the Old Town High School band parents during the noontime lunch at the museum on Perry Road.
The Memorial Day commemoration at 1:15 p.m. May 28 at the museum at 405 Perry Road will include the laying of wreaths at the World War II Memorial, Purple Heart Memorial and Vietnam Memorial on the grounds.
The keynote speaker will be retired Lt. Col. Chuck Knowlen, a Brewer High School graduate who served 20 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and helicopter pilot. He is a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit, and a volunteer in the museum’s Ambassadors of Patriotism program.
A USO-type show will feature the Old Town High School Band.
After the concert, World War II and Korean War veterans who have not previously received a walking stick may obtain one with ID. Also, stickers will be applied to the WWII sticks of veterans who already have them or family members who bring them.
After the program, beginning about 3 p.m. there will be free admission to the museum.
A new project of the museum will be introduced on Memorial Day – a 366-page book, “Quiet Courage,” written by Don Colson about Maine veterans from World War II to Desert Storm.
The purchase price is $20, and the book will be available in bookstores beginning May 29.
The city of Brewer will dedicate a Veterans Memorial site near Brewer Auditorium at 8:30 a.m. Memorial Day. The ceremony will dedicate a monument, flagpoles and two granite memorial benches donated by Cole Land Transportation Museum.
The Cole Land Transportation Museum at 405 Perry Road, Bangor, is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Nov. 11.
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