11/06-08
Maine

My ninth Department visit once again required an 0330 start to get packed and to the airport for an early-morning flight. This time, we are traveling Northwest Airlines to the northeast of Maine to Presque Isle, Maine, via Detroit and Boston. The Ft. Hood shootings have dominated my e-mail traffic. Our response to the tragedy is to make The American Legion available to the survivors and families in whatever way they need. We arrive in the afternoon and are met by a whole host of American Legion Family members, starting with the Department Commander Andy Olson, Department Adjutant Lloyd Woods, NEC Ki Owen and PNC Tony Jordan. This will be a short visit to a half dozen posts in the north of Maine.

We travel straight from the airport to Mars Hill 118 which is a small post, but is well attended. My remarks on technology are so well received that a member of the audience uses her phone to bring up my Web site and recount what is on it. A number of gifts are presented – a basket full of Maine products, and Houlton Post 47 gives me a cap and T-shirt. Rod Collins, Post 118 Commander, presents a book written by a member and good friend of his who recently passed away. He got very emotional in presenting it. It is a book about the World War II European Theater experiences of Mike Evangelista and the PTSD he suffered the rest of his life. The book is called simply “Mike,” and is copyrighted 2006. I look forward to reading it on the flight to D.C. Representatives from Caribou 15, Presque Isle 88, Fort Fairfield 27 and Houlton 47 are present.

First stop Saturday was Stockholm 136 for breakfast, and what a feast it was. Fullest plate I’ve ever seen. Laura Thomas of WAGM Fox 8 Presque Isle wanted me to join the speculation as to the motives in the Ft. Hood shootings. I told her The American Legion was not joining that discussion; we were making ourselves available to the families and survivors, and would wait for the Army to finish its investigation. Not sure if anything aired. I was also interviewed by Barbara Scott of the Aroostook Republican, a weekly publication. The Q&A sessions continue to be popular.

We had a police escort to Fort Kent 133. Scouts from their Boys Scout troop had set the flags up for the visit. Richard Cost, President of the University of Maine Fort Kent and a retired Navy Captain was also present. He has lived in this area for eigh years and loves it. This is one of the four corners of the United States. Route 1 begins here, and they give me a plaque commemorating my visit to the first mile. Of course, the other corner on the east coast is Key West, and I’ve already been there. There is also a border crossing into Canada next door, and the border guards allow us to take a picture looking from the Canadian side to the U.S. side.

We are escorted by the Riders to Madawaska 147, joined by a police escort and a border patrol escort. Impressive. A very impressive homemade chicken vegetable soup is served for lunch. High school and middle school students have their own TV station – WOWL Channel 16 News-which is used internally and externally. Two students are present – one for the camera and one to conduct an interview. They record my entire presentation, then all of their questions are about the importance of social networks, as that is important to the students. I was also interviewed by Elizabeth Dyney of the St John Valley Times. The post presented a gift certificate for lobster that would be Fedexed to my house. What a great gift. Representatives from Freechville 145, Engel Lake 176 and St. Franice 180 are present.

Next stop was Van Buren 49, where I was presented with a little beanie moose, as we once again have only seen the signs for moose, but no moose. There are a number of 60+ year members who are in their late 80’s and 90’s, the oldest being 97. This was a very informal visit, and was particularly enjoyed by the members. On the way back to the hotel for a short break, a number of our party claimed to have seen some moose in a field. My Aide even claims to have pictures of them. I didn’t see them and couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. There are no moose-as Cdr Rehbein says, they are products of overactive tourist bureaus.

Our last visit was dinner at Caribou 15 – a choice of chicken or roast beef. Except they wheeled out a Maine lobster for me, and when I finished it, they brought out a second lobster which was also easily devoured. To my chagrin, the third lobster escaped. Once again, my remarks were well received. Many gifts were presented before the night was over – LL Bean gift certificates to both Larry and I, a large plaque, a gavel and one side of antlers from those mystical moose. Entertainment was provided by Department Commander Olson’s wife, Rita, and she was absolutely hysterical. Thank you Rita.

I really appreciated PNC Tony Jordan traveling the entire route with us. He has gone out of his way to make both my campaign visit at their 2008 convention and this trip enjoyable and successful. Thank you.

Sunday morning, we visited the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery-Caribou. We were met by two of the driving forces behind the fund raising and work that made it possible-Harry Hatford and Dale McGlinn-and by John Noble who donated 33.4 acres of his land to make it possible. It was dedicated 6/1/03, and there are many projects ongoing. There is a POW/MIA Remembrance Park with markers from a number of veterans service organizations. It is a beautiful site, and if they can get their proposed chapel/museum built, it will be even better.