MEAL IS $45 MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE. GO TO THE LINK TO SIGN UP FOR THE DINNER AND PAY IN ADVANCE. JOIN US FOR A GREAT TIME. DOORS OPEN AT 5:15PM
Cost is $20 for 16 and over, $10 for 16 and under, Free for under 5 years of age. Food vendor on site and beer garden. Loring Maine. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!
AUGUST 2-4, 2024
Limestone, Maine
30 years of the closure of Loring A.F.B.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2
8AM: Opening of the museum, we invite you to sit, chat, make new friends, purchase items, and thumb your way through history.
8AM: Weapons Storage Area is Open, stop into the Aroostook Wildlife Building.
Ribbon Wall opens to place a ribbon in honor of someone. $2
9AM: B-52 and KC-135 will be available to view. Arch Hangar is also open to the public. Please stay in the main area. Museum will officially open with ceremony.
9AM: Riding Tours by bus will begin. First come first serve, by donation.
9AM: Vendors will open for the day and Authors will be on hand to chat and buy books.
9AM: Scavenger Hunt officially begins. You have until Sunday at 2pm to get your paperwork in. Cost is $20 per person; winner gets the purse! Be safe.
11AM: Major Charles Loring Ceremony for the parts of his plane and the S. Korean Medal of Honor given. Held at the Museum in front.
12PM: Record your Loring stories via video. Share some Loring folklore and help us preserve history by telling your story to Best of Bets Productions.
12-2PM Antique Car and Plane photos, $35 Cash, first come first serve.
12PM: Scavenger Hunt officially begins. You have until Sunday at Noon to get your paperwork in. Cost is $20 per person, or group; winner gets the purse! Be safe.
1PM: Peter Noddin at the Museum in the garage about the deadliest year 1958.
2:30PM: Group photos of squadrons at Museum.
4PM: Museum Closes for the day.
5PM: Concert on the Runway, gates open at 5. Cost is $20 adults 16 and over, 5-16 $10, under 5 free. Free Parking.
6PM: Concert on the Runway. Music provided by Bon Jovi Tribute Band, Living on a Bad Name. Opening for them will be I want my MTV Band. Beer Garden on site with food vendors. Bring a camp chair and enjoy the music with your family and friends. Backdrop will be the B-52 and KC-135. $20 for 16 and over, $10 for 5-16 and under 5 is free.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
8AM: Museum opens to the public.
8AM-4PM: Stop in and buy a post card, and then get a commemorative stamp endorsed by the United States Postal Service in honor of the event at the museum.
8AM: Store opens for sales. Cash or check only. No Credit or ATM. Ribbons on sale for the wall, $2 each.
8AM: B52 on display on the Flightline. Please stay in designated parking areas.
8AM: USAF Recruiters, Army National Guard, Forest Service, Warden Service. Ground Crew will be on the flightline. Stop by and say hi to all of them.
8AM: Loring Wildlife Refuge opens. Be mindful of animals roaming.
8AM: Loring Tours by bus. By donation, this is a moving tour, not making any stops. First come first serve.
8AM: MA13A1 “Norm 3” 5 - Ton Jeep, Troop carrier. Thanks to Tom Farry.
9AM: Crafters, Authors and Food Vendors on site to sell things. Some have USAF and other things for sale. Stop by and support local small business.
9AM: Opening Remarks by Polly Chike and Committee remarks.
Official posting of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol, National Anthem, Pledge.
9AM: Mobile WWII Museum near Arch Hangar, Arch Hangar Open, LDA Booth inside.
9AM: Scavenger Hunt will be all weekend. Cost to enter is $20 per person. Winner gets the whole purse! Must be submitted by 11am Sunday.
930AM: Group and Squadron photos in front of the Moose is Loose.
10AM: Food booths open at Museum, be sure to eat a lot.
2PM: Fly over Bangor Air National Guard “The Maniacs” KC-135 and possibly fly over of the new KC-46 from Pease AFB Air National Guard.
3:30PM Arch Hangar doors will be closed.
4PM: Closure of the Center for preparation of Dinner Event.
515PM: Dinner Event opens pre-registration is needed. Cost is $45 per person.
There will be 10 last reservations will be taken.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
9AM: Museum Opens Posting of colors by those present.
9AM: Ribbon wall still up. Cost is $2 to add a ribbon in a loved one’s name.
9AM: B52 on display on the Flightline. Refueling will occur. Limited time access. Plan Accordingly.
9AM: Be ready to board the bus. Cash only.
9 30AM: Weapons Storage Area at the Wildlife Refuge. Bus holds 88 people first come first serve. Cost is $10. JC Garbinski will be on doing the tour. Car caravan may follow.
11AM: Scavenger Hunt ends, hand in forms to Cuppy at the museum.
12PM: Group Photos if anyone wants to take them. Last chance.
12PM: Video stories and sharing past experiences.
1230PM: Official Closing of the Loring Air Museum Open House 2024. Retire the colors, and TAPS by local Eagle Scout Lars Spooner.
1PM: Building will close promptly. Please be mindful we worked for months and weeks on this, and we would like some time for us.
Official Hashtag for photos is
#loringairmuseum
#loringopenhouse2024
THANKS FOR COMING TO OUR EVENT. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND THOSE THAT WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE OUR EVENT A COMPLETE SUCCESS! WE HAVE HAD SOME AMAZING VOLUNTEERS! ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT POLLY CHIKE, OUR OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
Please refrain from entering any building on the base. Do not run cars on the runway for the weekend. We are excited to host this event and hope that you enjoy yourself and take part in the events planned. We are guest here.
1. Limestone High School Classes
1972, 1973, and 1974
2. Best of Bets Productions
3. Ride North Harley Davidson
Cantrell Seafood
In Memory of Jennie and Richard Redmond, from the Johndro and Redmond Family
GOLD:
1. RENNAYE JOHNSON
2. STEVEN AND DEBORAH JORDAN
3. MARK STADNICKI
4. DAAQUAM LUMBER LLC.
5. THE COUNTY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
6. ANONYMOUS DONATION
7. IN MEMOR OF JOHN REPULA, US ARMY, 3/22/55-3/21/57M FROM YOUR SON JOHN REPULA USAF, 5/29/85-3/1/89
8. COLONEL BOB PAVELKO, USAF RETIRED
9. COL & MRS. DOUGLASS DONNELL
10. THE JADE PALACE RESTAURANT AND TIKI BAR
11. GRANT SPINNEY CONSTRUCTION
12. WILLIAM KLOSS- CE
1. GALLAGHER INSURANCE AGENCY
2. MACHIAS SAVINGS BANK
3. NORSTATE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
4. THE BUNKER INN
5. IN MEMORY OF MSGT DOUGLAS PLENGE
6. CHRISTOPHER P. ANDERSON 42ND MMS 1985-1987
7. LD CARPENTRY
8. CARIBOUPAINTINGCOMPANY.COM
9. PROGRESSIVE REALTY
10. IN MEMORY OF TSGT THOMAS LUKAS
11. NORMAN THIBODEAU
12. CARY MEDICAL CENTER
13. MI'KMAQ NATION
14. THE SPORTS INN
BRONZE:
1. Bruce Lester
2. B-SGT Tom Penner- 42nd Comptrollers
3. SRD Rentals- Washburn
4. Fred and Sharyn Strickland
5. Steve Poppe
6. Milton Kidder- K-9 1963-67
7. Mark Lilley
8. Soderberg Construction Inc.
9. William T. Mousel- USAF Veteran Loring
10. Bernard J. Skidgel- US Army Vet.
11. Alyre Levesque- Civilian Contractor Loring
12. Reno Levesque- WWII Veteran Omaha Beach.
13. Barry Crocker
14. Paul and Stacy Smart
15. Glenn and Nancy Hoel
16. Richard Holbrook III- USAF Loring 80-84
17. In Memory of Reginald and Teresa Ouillette
18. Confectionately Yours
19. Family of Major D.B. Syfrett J. Loring AFB 1955-1959
20. In Memory of Jerry Noll.
21. In Memory of Anilio “Ike” Iacuzzo
22. In Loring memory of MSGT William "Bill" Beil
23. Sizzle and Slice - Caribou
24. Kira Libby
25. SSGT Ron Stewart
26. Presque Isle Neighbors & Junk Removal
27. Herman and Pauline Gaskins
DO NOT MAIL ANYTHING TO THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF THE MUSUEM.
MAIL ALL ITEMS TO
LORING AIR MUSEUM
PO BOX 326
CARIBOU MAINE 04736
MAKE ALL CHECKS TO LAM
PLEASE SIGN YOUR CHECK!
We have no ATM on site and are strictly cash or check. Come prepared for that please. Nearest ATM is Caribou Or Limestone.
PAYPAL AND VENMO WILL NO LONGER BE USED THANKS TO CHANGES BY THOSE TWO VENDORS.
POST EVENT - ALL ITEMS FROM THE OPEN HOUSE WILL BE ON SALE. YOU WILL PAY THE SHIPPING AND COST.
Loring Sentry Dog Cemtery
Our Military Dog Cemetery as you can see is in bad shape. It was first taken out by a micro burst but this winter has really ruined the rest of it.
We were going to replace this over the course of the spring summer but sadly we are unable to meet up with those that own the property.
Our intent was to get the property either deeded to us or give us a 99 year lease on it. Putting up a $4500 fence requires a lot of work and also we wanted to protect it and what we were going to do on the property.
Tonya Ossenfort is the curator of that area and her grandson Evan Silsbee.
SUMMER HOURS ARE NOW BY WEEKENDS
SATURDAY 11-3
SUNDAYS 12-3
WEEKDAYS ARE ONLY IF A VOLUNTEER IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE CAN NOT ALWAYS LET YOU IN.
STORE HAS NO ATM OR TAKE CARDS, CASH ONLY OR CHECK.
Weekends are the ultimate for trip planning.
OUR CENTER DOES NOT KEEP RECORDS ON PEOPLE THAT SERVED AT LORING AFB.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHO SERVED WHAT YEARS, AND WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT. THE USAF HAS THAT IN RECORDS, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT FOR EACH PERSON'S RECORDS AND HAVE A REASON TO USE THEM.
SORRY WE CAN'T HELP YOU TRACK DOWN PEOPLE NOR DO WE KNOW WHO FATHERED WHAT CHILD AND WHERE THEY LIVED. SORRY, BUT WE WISH YOU LUCK IN TRACKING
DOWN YOUR BIRTH PARENT.
IF YOU NEED RECORDS TRY THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
RECORDS IN
ST. LOUIS MISSOURI.
INTERESTED IN A LIFE MEMBERSHIP
YOU CAN DO THAT BY CONTACTING US AND PAYING $100.
YOU WILL GET YOUR NAME ON A PLAQUE AT THE MUSEUM, EMAILS AND YOUR NAME LISTED HERE.
YOUR MONEY FOR BEING A LIFE MEMBER GOES TOWARD NEW DISPLAYS, PRODUCTS, BILLS, HEAT, ELECTRIC AND MORE.
SUPPORT OUR ENDEAVORS AND HAVE YOUR NAME PUT ON OUR BOARD TODAY!
IF YOUR INTERESTED IN BEING A SPONSOR, MAIL A CHECK TO LORING AIR MUSEUM PO Box 326, Caribou Maine 04736.
BE SURE TO PUT SPONSORSHIP ON THE CHECK.
CALL IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION 207-551-3439
WE WILL FILL OUT THE FORM FOR YOU!
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT STEP UP TO SPONSOR US. MORE SPONSORS ARE BEING ADDED EVERY DAY!
YOUTUBE PROMOS:
Loring Open House 2024- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkYFoG25slo
Loring Open House 2024-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poa-BAAC6hI
JC Garbinski Tour-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bcmYmIPz0g
Peter Noddin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfC1hazzOY4&t=2s
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
BRONZE-$100
SILVER- $250
GOLD-$500
PLATINUM-$1000
SAPPHIRE- $1500
DIAMOND-$2000
VENDORS, CRAFTERS, FOOD, AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND, RIBBON CUTTING OF THE MAJOR CHARLES J. LORING JR. AIRPLANE PARTS AREA, ARCH HANGAR OPEN ALL DAY, FUN FOR THE FAMILY, RECRUITERS ON SITE, FOREST SERVICE ON SITE AND SO MUCH MORE.
Loring is a place near and dear to our hearts. Many loved Loring and loved the times they had and shared at Loring. It was a city within itself. A place were people made life long friends, where they lived and worked, cried and laughed. It was also a place people hated due to its extreme temperatures, the northern tier area in which it was housed and because it was so rural. This reason made Loring that much better due to its outdoor activities and the snow, it really depended on who you were and your lifestyle. That truly was what determined whether you loved Loring AFB, or hated it.
But ultimately, Loring is a place that even today, draws people back from all across America. They come to share it with their family, their friends and to reminisce on what was once the height of their lives and careers. Cold or not, frozen or eaten by bugs, we loved Loring!
WELCOME BACK TO LORING A.F.B., MAINE, ENJOY OUR PAGE.
"Loring relics and the remains of Loring, stand as a constant reminder of what the world once endured and the constant need for vigilance always. Having people on stand by waiting on the world to see what the next operation, or war was a thankless job. Never knowing, if the next klaxton alert would be for an exercise, or for a real world operational mission, kept us on our "A" game."
"Loring proved that it was possible to scramble fighters, or bombers, and have ready re-fuelers, pilots and crews within reach at a moments notice. Loring was a city, within a city. A hospital, BX, commissary, bowling alleys and so much more. This is one of the reasons that our Center is in existence.
When military people share a common bond, a camaraderie like no other, we tend to be a tight knit group, that backs each other up, and come together for the mission, for each other and for our families.
"Families at Loring lived side by side in very close proximity, and shared their lives together.
Many became friends for years some a lifetime. Kids grew up together and were military brats together. They played together and were on sports teams, they had the youth center and teen center to enjoy and the countless activities both on Loring and in the local area."
"This is some of the reasons I am so proud to have lived, worked, and served at Loring AFB. I am proud of the legacy we left, the time we shared and the gift of life long friends. Since we have moved back, I've been proud to be part of The Loring Military Heritage Center. I love to hear the stories, and see the look on faces of a family when they see their family members staring back at them in a book or photo, or just to see their name in a book, or flier.
"I've seen old veterans breakdown at the sight of themselves at 19 or 20 in a photo. I've seen children say that is the biggest smile my Dad ever wore. It is a very emotional and very moving experience. The tears shed are of pride, honor and of what their lives were.
Thank you for sharing your stories and lives with all of us, it is our pleasure to serve you"
Cuppy Johndro, Loring Veteran 1987-1991, Loring wife 1991-1994
My wife & I went in 2014--on a Sunday in September---Bill Ossenfort came from his home to let us in. This is me waiting at the door --looking in. When we went inside it was pretty emotional for me because i hadn't been back to Loring in 44 years. I was stationed there for 4 years--1969-1973. Bill told us the Klaxon had just been wired up that week. Bill set it off while i was looking at the bomber area articles collected over time. Damned if i wasn't back on Bomber Alert in 1972!!! All I could think about were the people & friends I made // worked for//room mates . The best time of my life---if I could only turn the clock back. We were both Mainers--born there--moved 2 years ago. I miss Loring.
Roger Lamontagne
A flood of emotions and memories! Things you look at bring back memories you had forgotten for years 1976 -1980 E/C animals
Les Severance
My wife and I visited in August of 2020. I had a flood of emotions walking through the door. The memories of times and places and the people came rushing back, our mission and dedication to that and the brotherhood it created!! I was overwhelmed with how small the building is, but how many displays where there! When we walked out my wife looked at me and said “ I had no idea what you have gone thru all those years ago! It is a must see place
John Repula
My first thoughts were, and still are, thank you all for your service.
Jim Alward
A small group of volunteers came together to start what was known at the Loring Military Heritage Center. The sole purpose was to build a place to maintain the many artifacts that were being collected and the ones we knew would find a home with us. To preserve the history of this once great and historic base.
We met at the Wildlife Refuge at first till we were able to secure what was the bank at Loring AFB. Prior to us being it, it was a beauty salon. We would have to gut the building and when we did that it took a lot of time and effort. A crew was needed to gut it and add what is now the partitions that separate the areas and give us more wall space.
We had some that were good at one thing, while others were good at another. We voted in officers and we met monthly. We worked several time a week with a good amount of people most nights to get the work done. Several were already beginning the work of labeling and numbering the incoming display items.
As time went on we needed more space and the need for an addition was necessary. We got grants and were able to put up a wonderfully large garage and showroom with a breeze way that helped connect the two for winter. This came along well too but the ground work and the cement sat over the winter due to winter emerging quickly that year.
As spring and summer came we were able to put up the walls, and trusses and close it in. Then the real work of putting up the inner walls and displays began. Over time we have been able to move things around to better display items. We never turn down items and many will say if you have it, raffle off mine to make money for the museum for fuel or bills.
We are very fortunate to have the following we have because if we did not we would not survive. We started in the early days of flipping burgers and selling hot dogs to meet our needs. We also did a yearly Brownie ala Mode sale that went well for many years. As time went on we were able to find ways to support our museum through what we call SWAG. Items for sale that people were interested in or looking for. Hats, Tee Shirts, mugs, license plates, signs and more. Its is this that has put us where we are today. It is the constant Open houses and the sales that keep our doors open. We are grateful for the help and the wonderful support.
We love our customers, so feel free to visit us at the museum!!
Today | By Appointment |
VOLUNTEERS RUN US, SO WE ARE OPEN WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE AND WEEKENDS WHEN WE SCHEDULE THEM.
THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING
THE DISCOVERED PIECES
THE PLATE
HIS AIRCRAFT - P-47D
Copyright © 2024 LORING MILITARY HERITAGE CENTER - All Rights Reserved.
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