By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

John Kierstead gets a lot of his news from watching television. Last week, he got some very good news by tuning in to South Portland’s public access channel.

That’s how Kierstead learned an anonymous donor gave a $5,000 gift through the Scarborough Rotary Club to help build the Long Creek Air Tragedy memorial. 

The check was mailed to South Portland City Hall and announced at a city council meeting. City staff manage the fund for this cause.

“The phone was ringing. It was my sister-in-law,” Kierstead said. 

“She said ‘turn on channel 2 right now,’ and I did. And there was Tom Blake (South Portland city councilor) announcing that it (the $5,000 gift) was here. So I went down (to city hall) and thanked them formally on the air.”

Kierstead established a committee last year to raise money for the memorial to pay tribute to the 19 people who were killed when a bomber plane crashed into the Long Creek area on July 11, 1944. The dead included the pilot, Lt. Philip Russell – a South Portland native.

“It’s tough trying to raise money in this economic climate,” said South Portland City Manager Jim Gailey. “To have one donor come forward with a generous $5,000, it’s a great shot in the arm.”

 It was the worst air disaster in Maine history, according to Kierstead, who is a member of the South Portland Historical Society.

“There’s a lot of history in this community. John has really taken hold of this and wants to make everyone aware of what has happened,” Gailey said. “For John and his group to be pushing forward to memorialize not only the residents but the pilot is a terrific movement.”

Kierstead knows the donor who approached him several months ago about making a contribution in the name of the donor’s parents. The parents were at the scene of the crash voluntarily helping survivors. Kierstead doesn’t know why the donor wants to remain anonymous but he has pledged to keep the person’s identity a secret.

“It’s just fabulous. I’m very thankful,” Kierstead said of the $5,000 gift. “I can’t describe how it feels knowing that human nature triumphed.”

Kierstead hopes to unveil the new memorial at a service on July 11, 2010 – 66 years after the catastrophe. The memorial will be located in Redbank just across the street from Long Creek.

“If you don’t recognize the history, you forget it. And that’s what we try not to do,” Gailey said. “This is one of those items that has been talked about and documented over the years but really hasn’t been memorialized. This process is really doing that.”

Kierstead’s committee still needs about $2,500 to cover all the expenses but he is confident that fundraising efforts in the near future will be successful.

“We have eight months to come up with the rest of the money and I have a feeling it’s going to happen,” Kierstead said.

The city of South Portland donated the land for this project, a major contribution according to Kierstead. The parcel is approximately 40 by 60 feet according to Kierstead.

“If I needed to buy real estate, we wouldn’t even be one quarter of the way there. They’ve actually done the big favor,” Kierstead said.

Kierstead invites donors to send checks made payable to the City of South Portland with Long Creek Tragedy Memorial written on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to City Manager, 25 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106.

“I’ve always had the feeling that Lt. Russell has been circling the field for 66 years waiting to come home,” said Kierstead. “Now, we’re going to bring him home.”

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237, or news@inthesentry.com.