Recognizing Vets and Starting A Tradition

As the museum came to life, one section focused on the vehicles that helped win World War II. It wasn't long before those driving by saw a full-sized statue of a jeep outside of the museum to honor the veterans of that war. Two years later came a helicopter for the Vietnam vets and more.

As veterans and their loved ones passed through the museum, it became clear to Galen that the bonds forged in wartime needed to be remembered and recognized. He developed - and paid for - the creation of a walking stick to be given to the each of the rapidly diminishing group of WWII veterans. Thus began what, in the Bangor area, is 'quite the thing'!. Now each year the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades in Bangor see hundreds of vets from World War II with their walking sticks, all thanks to Galen - a Maine Mason!

This year, the canes were given to Korean War vets in a special 'Korean blue'. Next year, Vietnam vets will receive their sticks. See the Cole Museum's website for more fascinating information.

 

Keep ME Warm

Maine winters are harsh. Heating fuel is more and more expensive but weatherizing makes a BIG difference. Imagine being one of the thousands of senior or disabled citizens who can't do this for themselves. Right now volunteers are being recruited in all of Maine's 16 counties to assist in a 4 day blitz in October, 2006 to weatherize 3,000 omes of Maine citizens who receive heat assistance and whose homes use a lot of fuel. The purpose is to conserve energy, keep heat inside and block cold drafts.

If you want to be part of this fantastic effort, drop Sandy a note. It's another example of Maine Masons giving back to their communities!