Loring Fest Focuses On AFB History | Events

Visitors from far and near will travel to Limestone Aug. 24-26 to celebrate the history of Loring Air Force Base with events for the general public as well as special events for former Loring military and civilian personnel.

Sponsored by the Loring Military Heritage Center, located in the former bank on the base, the weekend is called "Loring Reunites 2012" and focuses on the men and women who served at the Limestone Strategic Air Command Base from 1953 to 1994, the Cold War era.

"We welcome back all of our veterans of Loring: families, civilians, contractors, military brats and friends of Loring," says Cuppy Johndro, who is coordinating the weekend for the Heritage Center.

Events begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, with the opening of the base, the flightline, the Rendezvous Restaurant and the Heritage Center on the Cupp Road, which houses a large collection of now historic Loring AFB memorabilia – uniforms, scrapbooks, photographs, signs, yearbooks and scale model aircraft. The center will host a silent auction beginning at 4 p.m. and the County Patriots Young Marines will post the colors at 5 p.m.

Saturday events include public tours of the Maine Military Authority from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MMA Humvee rides around the base all day and a barbecue beginning at 10 a.m. Visitors may view the flight line at 10 a.m., the hangers and nose docks at 11 a.m., the Arch Hanger at 12 noon and the former dog cemetery at 4 p.m.

Recruiters and displays will be on site and the silent auction will continue all day Saturday. Evening activities require pre-registration and include a dinner with recognition of veterans and a dance with a DJ, both at the former NCO Club.

The centerpiece of Sunday's agenda is a car tour of the Weapons Storage Area beginning from the National Wildlife Refuge welcome center off the East Gate Road at noon. Former personnel who once tended the nuclear arsenal will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

A golf scramble at the Limestone Golf Course will begin with a shot-gun start at 7 a.m. Sunday and the Loring Military Heritage Center will open at 9 a.m. The 4 p.m. closing ceremony at the center will conclude with Taps.

For more information visit www.loringmilitaryheritagecenter.com, or the Loring AFB Museum on Facebook, or contact Cuppy Johndro, 207-551-3439.