When Peter Howard’s brother told him about Honor Flight and what the trip was like, immediately he thought, “I’d like to do that someday.”
Someday was this spring, April 25-27. It seemed everything came into line for Peter Howard to make a trip to Washington, D.C. to join other Maine veterans to see memorials created in honor of all those who served this country.
kAm“xE H2D C62==J DA64:2= — G6CJ >@G:?8[” E96 qC:58E@? C6D:56?E D2:5] “p?5 E9:D H2D 2 DA64:2= J62C E@ 8@ 3642FD6 :E H2D E96 `_E9 w@?@C u=:89E[ :E H2D E96 d_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 ':6E?2>[ 2?5 H6 925 E96 =2C86DE 8C@FA W`f_X E@ 7=J @FE @7 q2?8@C] %96C6 H6C6 =:<6 gb G6ED >2<:?8 E96 EC:A]”k^Am
kAm%@ >2<6 E96 EC:A[ w@H2C5 925 E@ ;F88=6 2 76H >2EE6CD] u:CDE[ 96 ?66565 E@ 7:?5 2 “8F2C5:2?” — 2 DFAA@CE A6CD@? E92E 244@>A2?:6D 6249 G6E6C2?] $@[ 96 2D<65 9:D D@?\:?\=2H[ r9C:D #@J[ H9@ H2D 23=6 E@ 7:E E96 D9@CE EC:A :?E@ 9:D H@C< D4965F=6]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ3@5J 92D E@ 92G6 2 H966=492:C] $@>6 WG6EDX 2C6 2=C625J :? H966=492:CD[ 3FE 3642FD6 @7 E96 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 AC@8C2> E96J 925 FD 8@:?8 2== E96 E:>6 2?5 H6 H6C6 H2=<:?8 2 >:=6 2E D6G6C2= 5:776C6?E DE@AD 2== 52J =@?8[ D@ J@F 5:5 2AAC64:2E6 92G:?8 @?6[” w@H2C5 D2:5] “x H2=<65 2 =@E] tG6CJE9:?8 H2D E:>6 C:89E E@ E96 >:?FE6] (6 925 2 7F== D4965F=6]”k^Am
kAm$66:?8 2== E96 >28?:7:46?E D:E6D H2D 3C62E9E2<:?8] u@C w@H2C5[ :E H2D 9:D 7:CDE E:>6 E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 H2C >6>@C:2=D 8C24:?8 E96 ?2E:@?’D 42A:E2=]k^Am
kAm“q6:?8 2E pC=:?8E@? r6>6E6CJ[ :E H2D 9F>3=:?8[ G6CJ 6>@E:@?2=[” w@H2C5 C642==65] “%96J 92G6 23@FE 6:89E E@ `_ 7F?6C2=D 2 52J E96C6[ 2?5 E96J’C6 CF??:?8 @FE @7 C@@>] %96J’C6 =@@<:?8 E@ 6IA2?5]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 >F=E:A=6 DE@AD[ :?4=F5:?8 u@CE |4w6?CJ[ H9:49 :D E96 3:CE9A=246 @7 E96 “$E2C $A2?8=65 q2??6C]” %96 :E:?6C2CJ :?4=F565 5:??6C 2E uC665@> x?? >6DD 92== 2E E96 u@CE |6256 pC>J 32D6[ E96 p:C u@C46 |6>@C:2=[ &$ }2GJ |6>@C:2=[ |:=:E2CJ (@>6?’D |6>@C:2=[ E96 ':6E?2> (2== 2?5 z@C62? (2C |6>@C:2=] ~E96C DE@AD :?4=F565 D66:?8 E96 492?8:?8 @7 E96 8F2C5 2E pC=:?8E@? r6>6E6CJ 2?5 =2J:?8 2 HC62E9 2E E96 %@>3 @7 E96 &?<?@H? $@=5:6C]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 EC:A AC@G65 E@ 36 D@ >F49 >@C6] %96C6 H6C6 DE@C:6D E@=5 E9C@F89@FE E96 6?E:C6 25G6?EFC6[ 6:E96C G6E6C2?D C642==:?8 E96:C E:>6 :? E96 D6CG:46 @C E@52J’D D@=5:6CD :?BF:C:?8 H92E >:=:E2CJ =:76 H2D =:<6 324< c_ E@ d_ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= D49@@= 8C@FAD H6C6 2=D@ G:D:E:?8 E96 >6>@C:2=D[ 2?5 @7E6? 2D<65 G6E6C2?D BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96:C >:=:E2CJ D6CG:46] w@H2C5 H2D E@F4965 3J <:5D H2=<:?8 FA E@ 9:>[ D92<6 9:D 92?5[ 2?5 E92?<65 9:> 7@C 9:D D6CG:46] ~?6 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?E 2D<65 w@H2C5 :7 E96C6 H2D @?6 E9:?8 96 4@F=5 A2DD @? E@ E96 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@?nk^Am
kAm“x D2:5 ;FDE C6>6>36C E92E 2== @7 E96D6 A6@A=6 96C6 2C6 DE2?5:?8 2=:G6[ 3FE 2== @7 E9@D6 DE@?6D @FE E96C6 H:E9 A6@A=6’D ?2>6D @? E96> 82G6 E96:C =:G6D E@ <66A @FC 4@F?ECJ D276[” 96 D2:5] “%96?[ x E9:?< :E H2D E96 >@E96C @7 @?6 @7 E96 DEF56?ED WD96 H2D 2 G6E6C2?X 42>6 C:89E FA 2?5 D96 H2D :? E62CD] $96 42>6 @G6C 2?5 82G6 >6 2 3:8 9F8]”k^Am
kAm'6E6C2?D 2=D@ C646:G65 42C5D HC:EE6? 3J J@F?8DE6CD] w@H2C5’D 42C5 H2D HC:EE6? 3J tC:42 r] @7 !9@6?:I[ pC:K@?2[ “s62C '6E6C2?[ %92?< J@F 7@C J@FC D6CG:46 E@ @FC 4@F?ECJ] *@FC DEC6?8E9 :D :?DA:C:?8[ J@FC 565:42E:@? F?H2G6C:?8[ 2?5 J@FC D24C:7:46 :>>62DFC23=6] (@C5D 42??@E 4@?G6J E96 56AE9 @7 >J 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C J@FC 4@>>:E>6?E E@ AC@E64E:?8 2?5 6?DFC:?8 @FC 7C665@>D] u@C 2== E92E J@F 2C6 2?5 2== E92E J@F 92G6 5@?6[ J@F 2C6 2 ECF6 96C@]”k^Am
kAmw@H2C5 H2D :?EC:8F65 3J DE@C:6D E@=5 3J 76==@H G6E6C2?D] “xE H2D :?E6C6DE:?8 E@ =:DE6? 3642FD6 >2?J @7 E96 8FJD @? E96 EC:A 925 D6CG65 C62= E:>6[” w@H2C5 D2:5] “x H2D?’E @G6C E96C6]”k^Am
kAmq24< :? `heg[ ;FDE 367@C6 r9C:DE>2D[ !6E6C w@H2C5 “8@E E96 42== E@ 5FEJ” — 96 H2D 5C27E65]k^Am
kAm“x H2D DEF56?E E6249:?8 2?5 E96J D2:5 x 925 ‘)’ 52JD E@ C6A@CE] x H2D?’E 4C2KJ 23@FE :E[” 96 C642==65] “pE E96 E:>6[ =:G:?8 :? |:=@ H9:49 :D AC6EEJ 4=@D6 E@ E96 r2?25:2? 3@C56C[ E96C6 H6C6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 4C@DD:?8 @G6C] x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 5@ E92E]”k^Am
kAm$@[ w@H2C5 D@F89E E@ ;@:? E96 }2E:@?2= vF2C5] ~E96CD 925 E96 D2>6 :562[ 9@H6G6C[ 2?5 E96 pC@@DE@@< r@F?EJ F?:E 925 ?@ @A6?:?8D] w@H2C5 G6?EFC65 E@ pF3FC?[ H96C6 E96C6 H2D EH@ @C E9C66 F?:ED[ :?4=F5:?8 2? pC>J w@DA:E2=] w@H2C5 =2?565 2 DA@E H:E9 E96 9@DA:E2= F?:E[ 2?5 H2D D6?E E@ 32D:4 EC2:?:?8 :? E96 {@F:D:2?2 2?5 >65:4 EC2:?:?8 :? %6I2D]k^Am
kAmw:D 4@>>:E>6?E H2D 7@C D:I J62CD]k^Am
kAm“(6 H@F=5 8@ E@ >66E:?8D @?46 2 >@?E9[ 2?5 2E DF>>6C 42>A[ H6 FDF2==J E@@< @G6C 2 9@DA:E2= 2?5 CF? :E[” D2:5 w@H2C5[ H9@ D6CG65 2D 2 >65:4]k^Am
kAmw6 =2E6C 2446AE65 9:D 7:CDE ;@3 :? 65F42E:@? :? r2=2:D] w6 H6?E @? E@ 36 2 =@?8E:>6 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C 2?5 4@249 2E {2<6 #68:@? w:89 $49@@=]k^Am
kAmpD A2CE @7 w@?@C u=:89E[ G6E6C2?D H6C6 AC6D6?E65 92ED] w:D C625[ “':6E?2> '6E6C2?]”k^Am
kAm“x 76=E 2 =:EE=6 6>32CC2DD65 H62C:?8 @?6] x 925 @?6 8:G6? E@ >6 3J 2 8@@5 7C:6?5[ 2?5 x 925 3@F89E @?6 @?=:?6] x D2:5[ ‘*@F <?@H H92En x 42?’E] x ;FDE 42?’E :? 8@@5 4@?D4:@FD] (96? H6 H6C6 2== 5@?6[ x 82G6 :E E@ E96 5:C64E@C @7 E96 AC@8C2>[” w@H2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw@H2C5 H2D C6>:?565 E92E C682C5=6DD H96E96C 2 D@=5:6C :D @? E96 32EE=67:6=5 @C H@C<:?8 369:?5 E96 D46?6D[ k6>mE96J 2== D6CG65 E96:C 4@F?ECJk^6>m]k^Am
kAm“x D2:5 x <?@H[ 3FE x E@=5 9:> E@ 8:G6 :E E@ D@>63@5J H9@ H2D @G6C E96C6[ 2?5 96 D2:5[ E92?< J@F[” w@H2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96J >256 2 A@:?E @7 E92E WD6CG:46X] %96J D2:5[ ?@E ;FDE E@ !6E6[ 3FE D6G6C2= E:>6D :? D6G6C2= 5:776C6?E H2JD[ :7 J@F D:8? @? E96 5@EE65 =:?6[ E96J J@F’C6 HC:E:?8 J@FC ?2>6 :? 3=@@5[ H96E96C J@F H6?E @G6CD62D @C ?@E 2E 2?J A@:?E[” r9C:D #@J 25565] “p?J@?6[ 2E 2?J E:>6[ 4@F=5 C646:G6 E96 @C56C E@ 8@]”k^Am
kAm“xE ;FDE 5:5?’E 4@>6 7@C >6[ 3FE :E 4@F=5 92G6[” w@H2C5 25565]k^Am
kAmw@H2C5 H2D E2<6? 324< H96? 96 G:D:E65 E96 (@C=5 (2C xx >6>@C:2=] w6 H2D AC6A2C65 E@ =@@< FA D@>6 ?2>6D[ 3FE E@ 9:D DFCAC:D6[ 2== 96 D2H H2D DE2CD — c[___ DE2CD] ~?6 DE2C C6AC6D6?ED `___ A6@A=6 =@DE]k^Am
kAm$@ >2?J 5:65 E@ AC@E64E E9:D ?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ C6>6>36C E96 D24C:7:46D A6@A=6 92G6 >256[” w@H2C5 D2:5] “%96J D9@F=5 36 9@?@C65 2?5 ?6G6C 7@C8@EE6?]”k^Am
kAm(96? !6E6 2?5 r9C:D C6EFC?65 9@>6[ E96J H6C6 8C66E65 :? q2?8@C 3J 23@FE d__ A6@A=6[ :?4=F5:?8 |2:?6 v@G6C?@C y2?6E |:==D] %96J C646:G65 7=@H6CD[ 2?5 H6C6 :?E6CG:6H65 3J 2 %' C6A@CE6C] %96C6 H6C6 >2?J DA66496D 8:G6?] ~?6 A6CD@? >256 2 D:>A=6 A@:?E[ “(96E96C J@F 2C6 2 s6>@4C2E[ #6AF3=:42? @C x?56A6?56?E[ x 5@?’E 42C6] (6’C6 2== p>6C:42?DP”k^Am
kAm“%92E H2D H6== C646:G65] tG6CJ3@5J 92D E96:C @H? A@=:E:42= G:6H[” !6E6C w@H2C5 D2:5] “qFE 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ H6’C6 2== p>6C:42?D]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC66E:?8D 7C@> |2:?6 =6256CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm&A@? 9:D C6EFC?[ w@H2C5 2?5 @E96C G6E6C2?D @? E96 EC:A H6C6 8C66E65 3J |2:?6 v@G6C?@C y2?6E |:==D] x? 2 AC6A2C65 =6EE6C[ E96 8@G6C?@C D2:5 :E H2D “>J 9@?@C 2?5 AC:G:=686 E@ E92?< J@F 7@C J@FC D6CG:46 2?5 565:42E:@? E@ @FC ?2E:@?]”k^Am
kAm“(96E96C J@F D6CG65 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx[ :? z@C62 @C ':6E?2>[ J@F H6C6 A2CE @7 D@>6E9:?8 :?4C65:3=J :>A@CE2?E — 6?92?4:?8 E96 D64FC:EJ @7 p>6C:42?D 2?5 @FC A2CE?6CD 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[” |:==D HC@E6] “(9:=6 H6 42? ?6G6C 7F==J C6A2J J@F 7@C J@FC D24C:7:46 :? 5676?5:?8 @FC 7C665@>D[ H6 2C6 2== EC6>6?5@FD=J 8C2E67F= 7@C J@FC D6CG:46 2?5 E92E @7 J@FC 72>:=J]”k^Am
kAmw@H2C5 2=D@ C646:G65 =6EE6CD 7C@> $6?2E@C p?8FD z:?8 yC][ H9@ HC@E6[ “*@F 92G6 D6E 2? @FEDE2?5:?8 6I2>A=6 @7 D6=7=6DD?6DD 2?5 5FEJ E92E H:== 36 C64@8?:K65 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ 4@>6[” 2=@?8 H:E9 $6?2E@C $FD2? r@==:?D[ H9@ HC@E6 “%96D6 >6>@C:2=D 2C6 DJ>3@=D @7 E96 D@=6>? C6G6C6?46 H6 9@=5 7@C 96C@6D =:<6 J@F[” 2?5 r@?8C6DDH@>2? r96==:6 !:?8C66[ H9@ 25565[ “*@FC 565:42E:@? E@ E9:D ?2E:@?’D 9:896DE G2=F6D — 2?5 J@FC 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 4@F?ECJ 367@C6 D6=7 — :D 2? :?DA:C2E:@? E@ FD 2==]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H E@ 2AA=Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2? w@?@C u=:89E[ 6=:8:3:=:EJ :D 56E6C>:?65 3J 2 D:>A=6 BF6DE:@?[ “s:5 J@F D6CG6n” xE 5@6D ?@E >2EE6C H9:49 3C2?49 @7 E96 >:=:E2CJ 2 G6E6C2? D6CG65 :?[ E96 5FC2E:@? @7 E96 D6CG:46[ C2?< @C H96E96C E96J D6CG65 @G6CD62D @C DE2E6D:56[ @C :? 4@>32E] k6>mp==k^6>m G6E6C2?D 7C@> |2:?6 2C6 6=:8:3=6]k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J[ E96C6 :D 2 H2:E:?8 =:DE] !C:@C:EJ :D 8:G6? E@ E96 @=56DE 2?5 E9@D6 DF776C:?8 2 =:76\=:>:E:?8 :==?6DD]k^Am
kAmw@?@C u=:89E |2:?6 :D 7C66 7@C G6E6C2?D E92?<D E@ 86?6C@FD 5@?2E:@?D >256 3J 4:E:K6?D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D] xE 4@DED 23@FE S`[___ E@ D6?5 2 G6E6C2? @? 2? w@?@C u=:89E] %96 D2>6 8@6D 7@C 2 8F2C5:2?[ H9@ :D C6BF6DE65 E@ >2<6 2 Sd__ 5@?2E:@? E@ 567C2J 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 6IA6?D6]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]9@?@C7=:89E>2:?6]@C8QmHHH]9@?@C7=:89E>2:?6]@C8k^2mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.