By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

  Maine Gov. John Baldacci and Maine National Guard Maj. Gen. John Libby honored wounded veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam with the State of Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Award at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough on Tuesday.

  Director of the Bureau of Veteran’s Services Peter Ogden opened the ceremony by explaining the medal is a part of the “Honoring a Veteran from a Grateful State” program, which was established in 2006. He said the medal is for Maine veterans injured in combat. Ogden said there is also a three star medal for Maine veterans who were killed in action.

  Baldacci began his speech by saying Maine has the highest number of veterans and veteran homes per population of any state in the country. He also made it a point to say that he was at the ceremony not to make a campaign speech, but because he wanted to present the medals.

  “They put their lives on the line and have great stories to tell,” Baldacci said. “If our generation is to pass off to the next generation, they need to understand what happened before them. It’s important for the state to recognize these people.”

  Baldacci and Libby then presented the medals to the veterans. The first to receive a medal was Army Maj. Edward Chappell, a resident of the Maine Veterans Home, who was injured at New Georgia in the Solomon Islands on Aug. 1, 1943 and at Luzon in the Philippines on May 12, 1945. 

  The next recipient was Marine Corps CPL. Gerald Coffey, another resident of the Maine Veterans Home, who was injured at Guadalcanal on Oct. 23, 1942. 

  Army T/4 Earle Howard Sr. received the next medal. The South Portland resident was injured in Germany on Apr. 15, 1945.

  Portland resident and Army Col. Albert Weidhas was presented with a medal for injures sustained in Korea on Mar. 11, 1952.

  Buxton resident and Army Pfc. Edwin Moores, who was injured in Europe during World War II, was unable to attend the event. 

  Conway resident and Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. Luther Smith was also unable to attend. Moores was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. 

  Army Cpl. and Falmouth resident Carlton Wing received an award, but couldn’t attend the event. Wing was a prisoner of war in Germany in World War II. 

  Army Capt. Ronald Miller of Gorham also could not attend the event. Miller was injured in August of 1969 in Vietnam.

   Howard talked about his service in World War II.

  “We started out in Omaha Beach and fought in Normandy,” Howard said. “We also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and got a Presidential citation for being able to hold the Germans up during that battle,” Howard said. “We were making a night attack, and I was riding in a jeep with my Battalion Commander. A mortar shell hit the road we were riding on, and went through our jeep. I was sent to the 95^th hospital in France for two weeks, but by that time the war was over.”

  Howard discussed his life after the war.

  “I took a few weeks off and painted houses,” Howard said. “One day I was painting and it started to rain, so I was standing on a street corner, and a guy, Joe Wigon, picked me up in a truck and asked if I wanted to do work for him doing office supply work. I started work there at 18 Free Street on Nov. 19, 1945, and 63 years later, I’m still working there three days a week.”

   Ogden said the ceremony was a success.

   “It’s a great day for veterans and a great day for us,” Ogden said. “The challenge with the Honoring a Veteran program is finding all of the veterans throughout the state. Our goal is to say thank you, whether it’s one at a time or 100 at a time, but it’s all about recognizing them and saying ‘thank you for your service’.”