The Maine Troop Greeters, who count many veterans among their number, are continuing to meet our troops, whether they are leaving home or returning to the U.S.
The greeters’ regular presence at all hours of the day and night at Bangor International Airport is an unqualified tribute to those serving their country and an emotional experience for anyone who is part of it or who, by chance, becomes an unexpected observer.
More than a half-million troops have passed through Bangor and have been greeted by those who wear their colors well in supporting those who serve.
On behalf of the Maine Troop Greeters, Charlotte Moscone wrote to the BDN awhile back to express the greeters’ thanks to Greg Cyr, manager of the Dollar Tree Store on Union Street in Bangor for that store’s donation of teddy bears for the greeters to give to those in uniform.
When I spoke with Cyr, he politely and graciously accepted the greeters’ thanks but told me that, in truth, the real thanks for the donation should go to Dollar Tree Store customers, who make donations possible.
Through the thoughtful assistance of its generous customers, Cyr said, this Dollar Tree Store has been able to give the greeters 400 teddy bears.
To all who participate in this program, in a multitude of ways, I salute you.
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Edward Davis, president of Burton-Good-Sargent Chapter 1 Korean War Veterans Association, wrote to the BDN recently to extend that organization’s thanks to the Maine Harley Owners Group 1722 of Hermon for the replacement of “several flags [that] were stolen from the Korean War Memorial” in Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery.
The memorial “honors the more than 34,000 men and women who gave their last measure of devotion to their country” between 1950 and 1953 in Korea, Davis wrote, adding that the flag theft is disheartening to everyone who donated time and money to erect this monument.
To Bangor HOG Chapter President Peter Prata and its members, Davis extends his thanks for the flag replacements and his “appreciation for their concern that people should never forget what service people have done for their country.”
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Deb Christensen, parish administrator for First United Methodist Church, announces that that church and Redeemer Lutheran Church, both in Bangor, “are partnering to provide a warm place and hot soup for folks in the Essex Street, Broadway area, to come in and get warm two evenings a week.”
The warming center will be open 3:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex St., and Thursday, Nov. 13, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St.
The centers will continue to be open at the same times Wednesdays at Redeemer Lutheran and Thursdays at First United Methodist until further notice.
Christensen says all in the community are welcome, “particularly those who are forced to keep their homes at a colder temperature due to rising fuel prices.”
This includes the elderly and families with young children.
“This will be a warm place to come for fellowship,” Christen wrote, “to do homework and share a warm meal before returning to their cold homes.”
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Darlene Field, education and training specialist for the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, is the featured speaker for Memory, Aging & Alzheimer’s, a meeting of Uptown Business and Professional Women at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at St. Joseph’s St. Francis Center on Center Street in Bangor.
The meeting is open to the public and all interested individuals are welcome to attend.
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It’s “show time” at the Lubec Campobello Theatre, says Donna Vineyard of that organization’s stage adaptation of the famous Lewis Carroll children’s story “Alice in Wonderland.”
The performances, which all begin at 7 p.m., are Thursday, Nov. 13, Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15, in the cafetorium of Lubec School.
Admission is just $6 at the door, free for children under 12.
“Sarah Dalton-Phillips directs a cast almost equally divided between” residents of “Campobello and Lubec, with two children from Whiting,” Vineyard wrote.
The cast is composed of “people of all ages and experience levels, making a lively mix,” she added.
The costumes are the “delightful creations of Linda Chappa, Suzannah Gale and Royane Mosely,” and “this time, we have great music and sound effects by Ric Mosely.”
Break a leg, folks!
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; javerill@bangordailynews.net; 990-8288.