An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 21, 2007

Maine Air Guard peddles Air Force Week from town to town

By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau

PORTLAND, Maine - After pedaling their 18 bicycles along 170 miles of Maine roads, Maine Air National Guard Cycle Team members, dressed in red, white and blue cycling outfits, coasted to the end of their three-day journey here Aug. 20 in front of the Hadlock Field baseball stadium.

Their trek started in Bangor Aug. 18, and they headed south, stopping along the way to celebrate and promote the 60th anniversary of the Air National Guard with the public.

The event was part of Air Force Week New England, which celebrated the Air Force's birthday Aug. 17-26 with special events in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

Flat tires, hills and rain did not stop them from informing the public about the Air National Guard and the Air Force.

"It was a little difficult at first with the rain and wind, and it was cold, but we made it through," said Lt. Col. Michael Girardin, from the Maine Guard's Joint Force Headquarters at Camp Keyes in Augusta.

They spent the first night in Augusta, and they rode to Auburn the next day. Their final leg took them to Portland.

After taking a short break in Freeport, the group left for Portland with a police escort leading the way. They followed the police car and its siren along the town's main boulevard as hundreds watched them roll by.

The Air Guard bikers represented the Maine Air Guard's 101st Air Refueling Wing, 243rd Engineering Installation Squadron, 256th Combat Communications Squadron and the Joint Forces Headquarters.

"It seemed fitting that we put together a bike team and stop at communities to talk to people about the Air National Guard," said Col. Don McCormick, JFHQ chief of staff.

A chase van followed the team with spare bike tires and tubes as well as boxes of ANG water bottles and other handouts which the team gave to people along the way.
The colonel said a highlight for the trip was visiting the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta.

"It was a real touching experience," said McCormick. "We had a tough day. We started in the rain, and then we had hills, and then we had wind, but to finish with the veterans made the difference. We actually met a veteran who was in the Maine Air National Guard in 1946 and 1947 "¦ a founding member, and he was just so proud and happy that we stopped in to see him."

Maine kicked off its Air Force Week with a proclamation by Gov. John Baldacci. The state continued its celebration on the following day with a musical performance by the Air Force's Tops in Blue at Old Orchard Beach. A Military Appreciation Day on Aug. 20 in Portland included a flyover by a 101st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during a Sea Dogs baseball game.

"We saw a lot of folks waving flags along the way, and it was a very good trip," said Girardin.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Peck, officer of information technology with 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, operates a small unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Phoenix Dawn 2025 at Saylor Creek Range near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 6, 2025. The 194th Wing's inaugural class of Warrant Officers are paving the way by re-establishing the role in the Air Force and setting standards for future generations.
Washington Air Guard’s Warrant Officers Pave Way
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 29, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Washington – The 194th Wing’s warrant officers are not only breaking new ground — they’re laying the foundation for generations to come.For the first time in more than 65 years, the Air Force reintroduced warrant...

Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force work alongside their RTAF counterparts in small groups to finalize their respective training objectives at the Enduring Partners 2025 final planning conference in Spokane, Wash., May 20, 2025. The working groups focused on areas such as air operations, ground-controlled interception, Air Force Special Warfare, cyber, combat communication, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief medical logistics, intel, and space.
Royal Thai Air Force, Washington Guard Finalize Plans for Enduring Partners 2025
By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon, | May 29, 2025
SPOKANE, Wash. – Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force assembled in western Washington May 19-24 to finalize plans for Enduring Partners 2025, an exercise involving RTAF and the Washington...

Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, discusses briefing details with Col. Augusto Villalaz, director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard, during the annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2025. The drill helps synchronize plans and strengthen coordination across LANG’s senior leadership ahead of hurricane season.
Louisiana Guard Rehearses Emergency Plans for Hurricane Season
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, | May 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard conducted its annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge May 21, uniting key personnel across multiple commands to refine...