BRUNSWICK
A reunion marking the fifth year since the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station kicks off on Friday, with a weekend full of activities for those returning to the former military base.
More than 200 veterans and family members will be on hand as the event begins Friday with a meet and greet at Yankee Lanes from 5-8 p.m.
On Saturday, the Brunswick Naval Museum and Gardens will be open for reunion participants and Mere Point Golf Club will be taking tee times throughout the day for those revisiting the old course.
A tour of the new Wayfair building — the former Navy Exchange — will be offered at 3:45 p.m., followed by tours of Mölnlycke at 4:30 p.m.
Happy hour will begin at 5 p.m. with a cash bar under the awning in P-3 Park, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and music provided for dancing. An awards presentation will cap off the evening.
According to reunion organizer Jeff Simpson, there will be four awards presented. One to someone traveling the longest distance, coming from Hawaii for the reunion, two to veterans who served on the base in 1953, and one to the highest ranking officer attending — a rear admiral.
Letters are expected to be read from the offices of Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, as well as a letter from Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. Simpson said the letters will be presented by state Sen. Linda Baker and state Rep. Jeffrey Pierce.
A guided tour of the base will begin in front of the former Navy Chapel at 9 a.m. on Sunday, followed by Frosty’s Donuts and coffee. A service will be held at 11 a.m. in the former base chapel, led by Pastor Raymond St. Pierre.
The museum and gardens will be open Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Simpson has been organizing the reunion for about a year and a half, saying response to the event was almost immediate.
“When I first put it out there on the Remember Brunswick Naval Air Station (Facebook) page, I started to get responses and I made a database and I had over 300,” Simpson said.
Simpson said many who wanted to attend couldn’t make it to the reunion due to family scheduling conflicts and vacations — something he said he will try to better plan for next time.
Asked what his own connection with the base was, Simpson said it was more personal than service-related.
“I lived on Old Farm Road in Topsham, and between Old Farm Road and White Street was a (P-3 pilot’s) marker for final approach for the base. They flew right down the center of those two streets,” Simpson said of growing up with the hum of Orions overhead.
Simpson said reservations are still available if people act quickly. If you would like to attend the reunion, visit bnasreunion.org for details.
dmcintire@timesrecord.com
Reunion kickoff
• MORE THAN 200 veterans and family members will be on hand as the BNAS reunion begins Friday with a meet and greet at Yankee Lanes from 5-8 p.m.
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