BANGOR – A Bangor native and World War II prisoner of war recently was elected president of an international veterans association.

Louis Cunningham, formerly of Bangor, served in the Army during World War II. Now, 57 years after fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he has been named president of an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the largest land battle ever fought by American soldiers.

The Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association is an international organization including residents of Luxembourg and Belgium, although most of the members are from the United States.

“Our goal is to pass along as much information as we can about World War II, mainly by participating in schools,” Cunningham said.

The veteran entered the Army shortly after graduating from Bangor High School in 1942. During World War II, Cunningham was a member of the 106th Reconnaissance Troop attached to 106th Infantry Division.

He was one of 600,000 American soldiers who fought against Hitler’s last offensive in the Ardennes Forest beginning on Dec. 16, 1944. While stationed in Grosslengendeld, Germany, the 140 members of his troop were captured by German forces. Cunningham was a prisoner of war in five different war camps and was listed as missing in action during this time. He was transported in open boxcars and was forced to march as far east as Poland until he was liberated in April 1945 by British forces.

A resident of North Wales, Pa., Cunningham believes the history of World War II is often ignored and hopes as president of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge he will be able to increase the public’s knowledge of the sacrifice World War II servicemen made.

One of the most important activities for the association is speaking to students about World War II. Members hope the children they speak to will never have to experience anything like they did.

“We try to get it in their [students’] heads that there was a war and it was a serious one,” Cunningham said.

The group also erects monuments in memory of fallen World War II soldiers. There are about 20 such monuments throughout the United States, according to Cunningham. The closest one to Bangor is in Cape Cod, Mass.

The association’s members and their families hold a reunion each year. This year’s reunion will be Aug. 29-Sept. 2, in Baltimore, Md. All veterans of the Battle of the Bulge or their descendants are welcome. For more information, contact Louis Cunningham at (215) 699-8646.