Memorial Day festivities and somber remembrances - By Michelle Libby

Memorial Day weekend was kicked off with a 5K and brunch on Saturday hosted by the Windham Veterans Association and ended with a speech by Governor Paul LePage on Monday to recognize Vietnam era Veterans. The ceremony on Monday was put on by the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148. 
 

As a part of the Memorial Day celebrations, the WCA also wrapped up its Toby’s Dream campaign with a huge event Saturday with a 5K race that had 125 runners, and a brunch put on by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 148. In addition there was a silent auction and the raffle of a paddle board donated by the Kittery Trading Post and a sapphire ring donated by Windham Jewelers.   

The event raised over $8,000 and pushed the dream into reality. The total raised was $53,400, but even as Brenda Pennels announced the total, she was given two more donations. 

On Memorial Day, the community turned out for a parade from School Street to Windham High School. The parade featured service men and women from all branches of the service, local legislators, 4-H, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups. 

At Windham High School, the fallen military were honored in front of the monument recognizing all branches of service. Names of the Veterans who passed away this year were read by master of ceremonies Brenda Pennels as Willie Goodman, head of the VFW, rang the brass bell. Over 800 flags were deemed unserviceable and burned. There was also a 21-gun salute.

At noon, the community was invited to the Veterans Center for a cookout and open house to honor Vietnam Veterans on the 50^th anniversary of the conflict. 

Lee Humiston, the owner and founder of the Maine Military Museum in South Portland, brought a collection of Vietnam era memorabilia to display at the Veterans Center. From helmets to uniforms, model airplanes to newspaper clipping all from the conflict, he said that the collection was very valuable.

“I brought stuff up from Vietnam to get a taste of remembrance from Vietnam” Humiston said. 

The museum is the only one of its kind and has rare artifacts from the Civil War like a 1775 cannonball and a Civil War medal of honor, up through items from Afghanistan and the Gulf War. The museum is all run on donations with no funding from outside organizations. 

Humiston spent 26 years in the military and supports the American Legion whenever he can. “They call, I come,” he said. 

The Legion post honored teacher Sabrina Nickerson as educator of the year. “I want to say a big thank you for all of you who support us. You are a national treasure, you and your families,” she said.

Doug Richards, manager of Hannaford, was also recognized for his support of the Legion. 

Dana Reed prayed over the gathering. “Once again, war painfully taught us the geography of a region with names like Da Nang, Hue, and the Mekong Delta, as a generation raised on rock and roll set aside electric guitars and drum kits to pick up and M16 carbine, fly and F-4 Phantom or to hear the distant approaching saving sound of a Huey.” 

Governor LePage gave a solemn speech. “We must honor those comrades. When you sign up for the military you write a blank check,” he said. “Many of you went to fight the war because you were asked to. When you came home, you were disrespected by the American people. It’s high time we thank you for the service to our country.”  

The following men were honored by the governor: Bill Petty, Carl Hartwell, Charles Hennessey, Charlie Tufts, Dale Meggison, Daniel Boothby, Dennis Marshal, Don Mckenna, Edward Emmons, Edward Robert Lee, Gary Row, Gary Tyron, George Bragg, George Gherardi, Gerald Dube, H. Scott Harrison, Henry Whynot, Herbert Broy, Howard Hanscome, John Hill, John Nason, Ken Murch, Malcolm Lyons, Malcolm Dixen, Marsha Morgan, Martain Traiser, Melvin Greenier, Mitch Kosoff, Peter Hutchinson, Ralph Rao, Richard Sakker, Richard Traiser, Robert Charest, Robert Akins, Rodney Voisine, Roger Timmons, Timothy Politis, Victor Salemme, Wayne Carter and Stanley Burke.

Windham Comprehensive Plan in quiet mode while first draft is written - By Michelle Libby

Although it has been months since the Windham Town Planning office has asked for public opinion on the comprehensive plan, it doesn’t mean it’s not working on the plan and analyzing the data and community input from the fall. Since the public meetings in November, the information gathered has gone before the town council and “inventory chapters” are being done. 

“We’re in quiet mode,” said Ben Smith, town planner. “It’s still a public process.” 

As the review team sorts through the different sections of the comprehensive plan, community members are asked to come in and speak about areas they have an interest in, like the Windham Historical Society, transportation or municipal facilities. 

“This is the most important municipal document a town has. This helps the council set priorities and focus on the areas the community decides they should focus on,” said Smith. 

The comprehensive plan is a 10-year plan an appointed committee devises with community input. The plan is certified by the state. The state also recommends that the town revisit the plan every five years or so to make sure it’s heading in the direction that meets the town’s objectives. The plan looks out 10 years, but can be updated and added to before the time is up.  The timeline for the project has been a survey in October that all of Windham was asked to complete. In November, the committee held visioning forums and in January and February the committee devised a vision and values statement. This statement will “serve as the cornerstone of Windham’s updated comprehensive plan.” The council approved the vision statement and now the review team is working on the 11 chapters. “There is potential for local input,” said Smith. 

 

The biggest surprise Smith found with the survey given back in October was that what people loved the most about Windham was the convenient access to Portland and recreation opportunities in the mountains and lakes. People found more to like about the location and access when thinking about Windham, rather than thinking about things in the community. One of the biggest concerns was traffic.

By the end of the year or beginning of 2016, Smith hopes to have the first draft of the plan ready for another community forum. Between now and then, meeting notes, draft chapters, lists of plans and studies are all put online for the community to view. There should be no surprises.

The plan is not a “stand alone” effort. Information is taken from the 2003 comp. plan and if useable, it is incorporated into the new effort. 

“We need to think about what these facts are telling us. What can we do that will have the most impact?” Smith asked. The comp. plan also has to take into consideration all of the groups in town, from youth sports to senior housing to historical societies, and strike a balance between them all. 

“It is now more clear that Windham is a town made up of many interconnected communities,” Smith said.

In the past with comp. plans, only about one-third of the recommendations have been implemented. “I’d like to see a small, more focused set of recommendations and that the town council buys into this document and they do them all. It’s important for the town and the town council, it’s their document,” Smith said. 

The top answers to the questions asked in the survey are “advantages to living in Windham –“Proximity to Portland.” Top disadvantage to living in Windham – “Traffic problems.” Top threat to Windham’s quality of life – “Development and congestion in North Windham commercial corridor.” Top priorities for Windham moving forward – 54 percent of people want to keep Windham’s present tax level. The second priority was “improving the traffic flow in the Town’s commercial district” and 46 percent said it was a priority and 57 percent they would raise taxes to fund it. 

To review individual chapters as they become available or to see any of the documents, visit the comp plan document library page or contact the planning department at 894-5960, ext. 2 or email plan@windhammaine.us.

Local WWII vets recall service to country during high school years - By Walter Lunt

In the spring of 1942 America was gearing up for hostilities in what would be the second Great War of the 20^th century. In Windham, several high school seniors were ready to help protect the home land…before class.
 

Well known Windham veterans Bob Miele and Carroll Macdonald remember when, barely 17 years old, they were asked to participate in the war effort by manning a hastily constructed aircraft warning tower situated on a high point of land near the intersection of Chute and Webb Roads. Their job: Keep eyes to the sky and listen. Their tools: Binoculars and a phone. 

The watch tower (pictured here), approximately 20 feet high, had an enclosed cupola mounted atop a tall shed. Macdonald’s shift ran from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. once a week. He doesn’t recall if he was ever late for his first period class at school.

Macdonald, Miele, and other participating seniors were instructed to report any aircraft not readily identifiable. But all remained quiet through graduation. Neither recalls having to use the tower phone which, as best they remember, was probably a direct line to Portland Airport. Macdonald says his most vivid memory of the experience was seeing the S.D. Warren (now Sappi) smoke stack, planes landing and taking off from Portland Airport and birds. Very loud birds. At sun-up, the sound of their natural morning calls was magnified by an amplification system installed in the tower by classmate Clyde Seavey, who covered a tower shift on a different day. Seavey was an amateur HAM operator and dabbled in electronics. Reasoning that a strategically placed microphone connected to an amplifier would provide an even earlier warning of advancing aircraft, he installed the system permanently. "I could still hear those birds (in my head) when I got to school,” remembered Macdonald.

Asked why they committed to such weighty responsibilities at such a young age, both Miele and Macdonald agreed, “It’s just what you did. It wasn’t like these modern wars. Everybody pitched in…because it was their duty. Teens, seniors, women, everyone. They wanted to.” The two veterans, now in their early nineties, recalled other commitments of the time: Scrap drives, rationing, victory gardens, black-out wardens…”

Macdonald later became a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp and trained as a fighter pilot. Miele reflected how he engaged in early warning systems right through the war, becoming an aircraft radar operator in Europe.

Sometime in 1943, Windham officials moved the watch tower to a higher point of land off Route 202 across from the Barnes Road (then known as Woods Road). It was taken down after the war years.

Flags around town and how it started - By Dave Tanguay

It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the American Legion Field-Allen Post under the leadership of Don McCormack started placing flags on the utility pole of the high ways and byways of Windham. In the spring of 2005 Commander McCormack pitched the idea to the Post and approached the Town of Windham concerning the viability of the project. Commander McCormack and Service Officer Dave Tanguay met with the town council and received approval pending agreement from the utility company that owned the poles. In the interim, Post members canvased the business communities for funds and pitched the project. Most local business were more than happy to donate the $35.00 required to place a flag in front of their business. Many gave generously of additional funds to fill in the areas between businesses. 

After a few delays, the first set of flags went up for the 4^th of July 2005 with Don McCormack putting up the first flags. The flags remained up until Labor Day that year. The following year, the Post expanded the number of flags to be set at 100 and formalized the locations to include the South Windham corridor, the Route 115 and Route 35 entrances North Windham, The old parade route along Route 202 to Windham Center Road continuing to the Windham High School, the section of Route 302 from Pope Road to the fire station and the stretch from Whites Bridge Road to Route 35 crossing. Most recently, in 2013, the section in front of the police station and central fire station on Route 202 were added. 

Some of the flag locations in town have been modified due to problems associated with the disproportionate loss or destruction of flags in certain areas. For example, a flag placed on a pole across the street from Dunkin’ Donuts in North Windham would be covered in black soot from the idling big rigs as they waited for the light. So, remove and relocate one flag from there. Along the stretch of Route 202 from the rotary to School Street, the wind damage in the open area was excessive to the point that many flags were lost. So, we scratched that section of road. Most of the current flag damage is due to the flags becoming hung up and torn on the surroundings fixtures on the poles or from high wind damage. Over twenty were lost two years ago during a nasty storm. Flags located at the intersections where there are a large number of boxes and cables on the utility poles take the biggest hits. 

After about three years, the bigger issue for the flag project was sustainable funding. The Post could not afford to continue spend the amounts needed for new flags and hardware. A request and proposal to the town council by McCormack for a shared responsibility for the project resulted in the town agreeing to the purchasing of approximately 30 flags annually for the rotational replacement of the flags. The Post would continue to be responsible for instillation as well as the maintenance of the hardware and replacement as needed. More recently, the town has been using the brackets installed by the Post for the placement of the colorful holiday banners that decorate from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

 Now you have the brief history of the flags around town put up each Memorial Weekend by the Field-Allen Post members. They remain flying until Labor Day except for one location. When Deb McAfee was the principal of Windham High School, she purchased flags sufficient to grace the Route 202 section in front of the high school with the condition that they stay up from Memorial Day to Veteran’s Day each year. The Post has honored that request. 

Now ten years later, a group of about a dozen, slightly aging, Post members with some family support met at the North Windham Fire Barn with ladders and trucks last Saturday at 6 a.m. They broke into teams of two and three and canvased the town’s roadways placing the now familiar red white and blue for all to appreciate. 

It might be noted that several nearby towns also now fly the colors. It is an impressive sight! Please extend a special thanks to Don McCormack on this Memorial Day for his foresight and diligence, and to the legion for continuation of the project. A special note, if you find fallen flag or one in distress, contact a Legion member, by calling 892-1306. Flags from the utility poles, if found on the ground, may be turned into the Windham Town Hall.

Photo: Post members Leon Davies and John Haill steady the ladder for Stan Burke as his places a flag near the rotary on Route 202.

Photo by; Dave Tanguay

Windham Public Works hosts first open house - By Michelle Libby

Last Saturday, Windham Public Works held its first open house at the public works facility on Windham Center Road to help celebrate National Public Works Week. Windham was one of five area towns who held open houses, including Standish, Yarmouth, Freeport and Auburn. 

 

“We want to promote public works,” said director Doug Fortier. “Usually we just go out and do our jobs.”

There were many large pieces of equipment including the new street sweeper, earthmovers, a snow plow truck and a bus, all open for inspection by the smallest visitors and their parents. There were also static displays about the history of Windham Public Works and many of the things they do for Windham.

Fortier tried to greet everyone who stopped by to welcome them and offer them free Lonnie hotdogs, chips and drinks, all courtesy of WPW. 

“The taxpayers own all of this,” he said, and encouraged visitors to explore and see everything.

There was also the opportunity for the approximately 40 people to ask questions directly to Fortier and his crew. He received questions about issues like storm water and paving. He was excited to educate people and let them see what they have for equipment. 

He hopes to do this type of event again.