Wheelchairs for veterans

Russ’ notes: Not to be used

According to Laurie Sidelinger, coordinator of the 3rd and largest group from Honor Flight Maine this year, 45 Maine veterans will be making a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice to the nation. This trip, taking place Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, is the fifth Honor Flight trip to be planned and executed for veterans currently living in Maine. The first stop of the day will be to visit and reflect at their World War II Memorial. The group will then visit Arlington National Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where there will also be a wreath-laying ceremony at 1:15 p.m. Three veterans who served in the three major conflicts will have the honor of participating in this ceremony. The wreath will be provided to Honor Flight Maine by Worcester Wreath and the Morill and Karen Worcester Family, who also supply Wreaths Across America. The tour of the national memorials will continue with a visit to the Korean, Vietnam, Marine (Iwo Jima), Air Force and Navy memorials. To facilitate their trip down from Portland, and the long day of activities in D.C., each of the veterans will be using lightweight wheelchairs donated for use by Bedard Pharmacy. ///Bedard, with locations in Auburn and Lewiston, has been instrumental in helping the Honor Flight Maine organization by donating use of wheelchairs for every Honor Flight Maine Trip. For this trip, Bedard purchased new, lightweight wheelchairs for use by the veterans. Bedard Pharmacy, with locations in Auburn and Lewiston, has a long history of serving friends and neighbors in Central Maine. They have been in business for more than 115 years! Bedard has grown from a small local pharmacy to a thriving health care company. Today, under the current local ownership of Mike and Annette Nadeau, Bedard consists of three divisions: Bedard Pharmacy, Bedard Medical Equipment & Supplies, and Bedard Senior Care.///