Last 5th Armored reunion slated

BANGOR — World War II's 5th Armored Division Association will honor Bangor by holding its 66th and final reunion here this summer.

World War II veterans and family members from Auburn to Ellsworth and South Dakota to Luxembourg will take part in activities including a free event on June 16 welcoming the public to view the military collection at Cole Land Transportation Museum on Perry Road.

More than 400 WWII souvenirs and military contraband items have been donated in recent years, most of them by the 700 veterans and family members who attended the 1995 reunion of the 5th Armored Division group in Bangor.

Veterans of the 5th Armored and family members coming to the final reunion are asked to bring more such items to show to the public, young and old, when Cole Museum is open free of charge 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 16.

Everyone is welcome to meet and greet 5th Armored veterans and museum volunteers and ask questions about items in the museum's military collection.

Another highlight of the weekend will be the final drawdown and banquet during which the 5th Armored Division members close down their association with a candlelight ceremony remembering the nearly 1,000 servicemen from the 5th who were killed during World War II, as well as 5th Armored Division veterans who have died since.

A non-denominational church service will be held Sunday, June 17, at the museum, and a visit to Bangor by several World War II planes is planned for that day.

For information on Cole Land Transportation Museum, call 990-3600 or visit http://www.colemuseum.org. For information on the 5th Armored Division Association, visit http://www.5ad.org.