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Charleston Air Force Station

Charleston, Maine

Newsletter 
SPRING 2004

REUNION TIME IS HERE!

At one time, it seemed like 2004 was a long way off but the time for the 2004 Reunuion is coming fast. Clinging to the old adage, 'If it ain't broke...', the schedule of events will be similar to other years.
Sadly we will not be having functions at Pilot's Grill because it
closed permanently December 31, 2002. For a while it looked like the Bangor City Council would allow the opening of a strip bar in the grand old restaraunt, but somewhere along the line they decided that booze and nudeness did not mix. The latest plans call for office spaces in Pilots Grill.

DOOR PRIZES

Each person attending is asked to bring a door prize. It would be nice if it were something from your current home state, but be sure to keep the price $10 or under.

THE EVENTS

Friday evening, July 16, 6:00 om.

Meet at Miller's Restaurant at 427 Main Street in Bangor. We will have our own room and each person orders from the menu, be it full dinner, Miller's famous buffet, or an appetizer and drinks. The restaurant will provide cheese and crackers at no charge.
This evening gives people who cannot attend the Saturday reunion an opportunity to meet and greet old and new friends. Since this is a drop-in event, individuals pay for what they personally order. The buffet is $10.95 plus tip, tax, and your beeverage.

Saturday Afternoon, Julky 17.

The Maine Air Museum will be open 10 am through 4:00 pm. Come and see the growing collection of military and civil aviation memorabilia. If you have any extra photos or any other artifacts of Dow Air Force Base or Charleston Air Force Station, the museum attendant will be pleased to accept these donations at this time.

Saturday Evening, July 17, 6:00 pm.

Gather for a social hour at the Elk's Club on Odlin Road right at the south end of the Bangor International Airport runway. Park in the lot to the left front of the building and enter through the double doors, then go to the right into the banquet room. There will be a cash bar provided by the Elk's.

Buffet Dinner at 7:00 pm. This will be catered by Stevie's Stagecach Catering which is located on premises and the buffet will consist of the following: Black Oak Carved Ham, Baked Stuffed Haddock, Roast Turkey, Mashed Potato, Peas, Squash, and a light desert. With this selection, there should be something for everyone. The cost will be $18.00 each, which includes tax and gratuity. Numbers must be turned in by July 9th, so get your reservation form back to Woody Breedlove, 211 Maple St, Bangor, ME 04401, or send your info via email woodyb@adelphia.net.
Door Prizes and Cheer & Chatter to follow. Stories, remembrances, what's happened since CAFS days, where you have beemn, and how many grand kids (or great grand kids) you have.
Later, dance to the big band sound of the Foxcroft Alumni band, which will take requests and plays many types of music.
We have this banquet room until about midnight so stay around, meet everyone, share more stories, relax and enjoy the time together.

Sunday July 18.

As always, Sunday you are on your own to attend the church or synagogue of you choice, catch up with some of your civilian friends in the community, take a ride to see how Charleston Hill is developing as a youth center. You will be amazed at the facility that is there.
The Maine Air Museum is open from 12:00 noon to 4 pm.

SEE YOU AT THE REUNION ! !

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FOUND CAFSer

I am very interested in attending this year's reunion. Also would like to be put on active roster.

William M. Young, 141 Player Drive, Murfeesboro, TN 37128, phone number (615) 217-4825.
Was at CAFS 1957-1961, Radar Maintenance and Data Processing
.

DONATIONS

Jean & Joe Mitchell
Bill Larrabee
Ronald "Mike" & Ada Cabell
Latty & Janet Whitten
Roland & Helen Holt
Dutch & Arlene VanZandt
Charles & Irene Croan
Edward & Beverly Lane
William "Mike" Young
Dick & Jane Loveall
Joe & Joan Notaro

ADDRESS CHANGES

Roland & Irene Holt
187 State Park Rd
Dover-Foxcroft ME 04426

Charles & Irene Croan
1644 Hwy 1401
Harned KY 40144

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WE GET LETTERS

Diana and I will be unable to attend the reunion this year. I am quite involved with the Boy Scout Resident Camp visitation program and will be tied up doing this during July. I am the Area 7 Camping Chair for the rest of this year and responsible for having 31 inspections done by the end of July Maybe next time.

M H Pridgen
H 252-937-2218, F 252-443-9950
PO Box 7232, Rocky Mounty NC 27804
.
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We really enjoy getting the newsletter and reading about some of the people we have known for so many years. We got to see Havey and Lydia Pechacek last summer and that was a wonderful visit. Charlie is thinking of going up for the reunion this summer. Keep up the good work.

Irene Croan
Harned KY


Letters - cont'd ...

I truly enjoy the newsletter and look forward to it.
It was nice to read about my old friend Mel Pridgen. I, too, have a grandson in Mosul, Iraq due to be home soon. His mother - my daughter Tina - was born in Dover-Foxcroft ad delivered by Dr Stitham. I was sorry to learn of his passing away. He was a real friend.

Ron (Mike) Cabell
Fayetteville, NC
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Sorry it has taken so long to send you some more money. As usual we were happy to receive the newsletter. Also, so we can send a note to Robert Hinton, as he was there when we were. And remember how Lila loved to dance at the Squad parties even at 9 months pregnant.
Our address is Dutch and Arlene VanZandt, 1075 Burke Rd, Wallace, ID 83873. Phone 208-753-9161. We were at CAFS 1951 to 1954. We lived up on High Street in 1952-53. Dutch was a radar opr.
Jim Stout, the cook, was our best man. We still keep in touch with him. He lives in California.
Also, we met Rodney Ahearn a few years back. They used to live on Tate Rd in Corinth. His mother Blanch lives on Route 15. Thought you might know them. Rod still said the name Sodermark sounded familiar to him.
Wish we could get to the reunion but I am on oxygen 24/7. Have too many pproblems to travel. I grew up in Bangor.
Thank you.

Arlene VanZandt
Wallace, ID
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Joe and I were excited to see William Mahoney's address and email address in the last letter we got. We called him up and also his ex-wife Joan. She and I kept each other company when our husbands were sent on isolated tours. Bill was in Alaska and Joe was in Vietnam. We went antiquing together and in the fall she dragged me on a gleaning trip to the potato fields. We got enough for our winter supply. I was emailing Bill but my computer is on the blink so I am going to write him. He keeps us laughing with his funny little jokes.
So this is another reason we would like to continue getting the newsletter.
We were sad to hear about John Clements. He will be missed.

Sincerely,
Jean & Joe Mitchell
----------------------------

Just a few lines to let you know I received the latest newsletter and was glad for the news.
I had received an email from John Clements' graddaughter that he had passed away. I kew he was in poor health, but it was still a surprise. I thought often of John and corresponded with him via email. I wanted to get by his place in 2002 when we were at the last reunion , but didn't make it. Now, how I wished I had made the time to go by and see him.
I am enclosing a check to help with the cost of materials and postage for the newsletter. To further help with the cost, you do not have to mail me a copy of the letter as I can get it through the Charleston AFS web site. I usually check in a couple times a month to see if anyone new has written in or sent some new pictures.
Hope this finds things back to normal for you (Pauline) and that your misfortunes have healed and cured and that you're enjoying life.
Hope to see you at the reunion this year. If the gasoline prices don't settle down, I may have to find an alternate method of getting there.

Larry Whitten
Millsboro DE

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Sorry to have taken so long to contribute again.
Thanks,

Ed & Bev Lane
--------------------------

I am enclosing $$ for any expenses incurred in keeping this group going. I am looking forward to attending the reunion this year. I hope there are some attendees from my era ('57-'61). I have sent some pictures to Dick Cynewski for the gallery and will send more when I get them sorted out.

Best regards
Bill (AKA Mike) Young
Murfeestown TN
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Sending a donation to help defray expenses. I don't know when I last sent anything but I hope this keeps me in the club. If not, let me know. Still hoping to make it for the reunion in July.

Joe Nataro
Pittsburgh PA
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Just returned to Indiana after spending the winter in Florida and thought I should get a check in the mail for the reunion fund and the newsletter.
We visited with Norm and Wilma Burgin ('54-'58) on the way home at their new home in Lake Greenwood in South Carolina. Had a very good time with them.
Didn't get to see any of the other CAFSers that are in Florida this year but maybe later.
Enjoy the newqsletter and wish you all well. Keep up the good work.

Jane & Dick Loveall
Plainfield, Indiana

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OUR WEB SITE

WWW.ANGELFIRE.COM/THEFORCE/CAFS

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2004 REUNION COMMITTEE

Joe Mizda
66 Fourth St, Bangor ME 04401
E-mail
jcm-mstpba@juno.com
(Keeper of the Mailing List & Emcee)

Ted Robinson
557 Stetson Rd, Exeter ME 04435
E-mail tnrobinson@tds.net
(Keeper of the Funds)


Peter Caristi
5596 Patten Dr, Hermon ME 04401
E-mail
caris195@hotmail.com
(Emcee)

Woody Breedlove
211 Maple St, Bangor ME 04401
E-mail
wwoodyb@hotmail.com
(E-mail Watch & Committee Meeting Place)

Pauline Sodermark
449 Tate Rd, Corinth ME 04427
E-mail
pghildreth@gwi.net
(Keeper of the Newsletter)

The Usual Volunteers

Greg Hildreth
Becky Robinson
Dick Cynewski
Margaret McKinney  

   

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