By Rick Wright

Staff Writer  

The military and military history ignited a passion in Lee Humiston when he entered the U.S. Air Force in 1956. 

Decades later, that passion is on display for all to see at the Maine Military Museum and Learning Center in Mill Creek with examples of memorabilia that span the centuries.

“That’s my crown jewel. It will always stay where it is as long as the city lets me have it. It’s a beautiful location,” Humiston said. 

Over the years, he has collected many military items including souvenirs, old uniforms, patches, badges and items from U.S. prisoners during the Vietnam War.

“I’m very passionate about it because I love it,” Humiston said. “This is a military service museum. It is not a war museum. It is for people who served their country. They didn’t have to ever have seen a day of combat in their lives but serving their country is everything to me. That’s what it is about,” Humiston said. 

Humiston loves to tell stories about the items he has in the museum and the way he acquired them.

One of his favorite stories is about a South Portland High School student who wants to put a memorial to his grandfather, a veteran, in the museum.

The student is so motivated to honor his grandfather he’ll do whatever is necessary to raise money for the memorial, Humiston said.

“He said ‘I’ll mow lawns. I’ll do what it takes,’” Humiston said. “I could have just given it (the memorial) to him but it takes away from his gift. So I’ll let him earn it, then I’ll put the plaque up on the wall for his grandfather.”  

Humiston is an Air Force veteran and served from 1956 to 1982 in active duty and the reserves. While he didn’t see combat during his time in the military, he did travel the world with exhibits to promote the Air Force.

Humiston, 71, grew up in South Portland but lives in Cape Elizabeth. He leases the former engineering building from the city of South Portland and opened the museum in 2008. The museum’s main attraction is the replica of a cell in the Hoa Loa Prison, commonly called the “Hanoi Hilton,” that held American prisoners during the Vietnam War.

It also includes a pewter fork made by a Maine soldier at Gettysburg in 1863, World War I and World War II items from Maine soldiers held prisoner in Germany, as well as items from the Persian Gulf War and the current war in Iraq.

Fourteen POWs from the Vietnam War, including Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), have visited the museum and seen the cell replica. McCain, a friend of Humiston’s, visited during summer 2008 when he was running for president. 

Visitors, especially students, learn a lot when they visit the museum, Humiston said. 

“I love kids seeing the history. When you can reach the kids and their teachers, then I’m accomplishing what my goal is,” Humiston said.

Humiston currently has two other exhibits on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washingon, D.C., and has also shown his collections at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, Calif., and the Naval Air Station Museum in Lakehurst, N.J.  

Last summer, Humiston acquired another building at 50 Peary Terrace near Cash Corner. He hopes to open the new building as the museum’s annex by early September.

The annex exhibition room features items from every American conflict since the War of 1812, with weapons, uniforms, letters and pictures of soldiers.

One wall displays covers of Life magazine with images of World War II from 1941 to 1945. Another wall has pages from local newspapers with headlines about major battles and developments in the war. 

Half of the 6,000-square-foot annex is occupied by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 832. Humiston divides the other half between a function room he rents for special events and a large exhibition room for military artifacts, souvenirs, documents and memorials.

The building and land was donated by South Portland resident and Board of Appeals Chairman Gary Crosby. 

The newly renovated function room, called the Embassy Room, has hosted several events, including a night to honor Maine veterans last fall.  

The room features seating for 100, large solid plate glass mirrors on opposite walls, chandeliers and brass plaques bought by family members to honor veterans. Each of the 60 plaques lists the veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, unit identification and time or area of service.

Rental fees and income from the plaque sales are used to defray expenses for the museum and annex, which are open free of charge to the public.

Humiston would eventually like to buy a shuttle bus to connect the two locations, which are about two miles apart.

In the short time his museum has been open Humiston has seen visitors from across the country.

“For a little place that was barely known, it’s catching on very well,” Humiston said. “I get calls now every day.”

The museum had approximately 4,000 visitors last year – Humiston said he would like to see 40,000 people come through the doors each year.

Humiston promotes the museum on the Internet (www.mainemilitarymuseum.org) and through press releases, advertising in schools, appearing on radio talk shows and speaking to groups such as historical societies and veterans organizations.

One of the museum’s docents is James Foley, a Vietnam veteran and Buxton resident. He volunteered to work for Humiston shortly after the museum opened two years ago. 

“Lee’s done a great job. I support this museum 100 percent. I think it’s fantastic,” Foley said. 

Foley works in the museum on Saturdays during the winter but volunteers more during summer. For him, the job is a labor of love. 

“It’s not work to me. It’s an easy way to pass the time. I like being in here,” Foley said. “When I come in, I feel like I’m in church. I look at this stuff and I’m amazed. I enjoy telling people the stories.”  

“This is a dream come true” said Humiston. “It will probably be the largest military museum in the state of Maine when I’m done.”

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