VETERAN'S STORIES
Calling All Veterans . . . Send us your story so we can share it with all who want to hear it and thank you for your service!
GEORGE
GEORGE LAVENSON
101st Airborne
Band of Brothers
Airborne Veteran's dream comes true 70 years later with the motivation of another present day Active Duty Airborne Veteran.
George Lavenson, lay in his hospital bed, in July of 1944 after being shot by a sniper in Carentan, Normandy France. He was telling his young wife of 2 weeks, through the mail, that all he wanted to do was come back to Maine and have a summer camp like the one he attended as a youth, called Camp Kennebec. His wounds were such that he would not walk again but he nonetheless was driven to make it happen.
On July 26th, 1944, his plane, headed for Bangor, Maine, was shot down on the way back from the war. It went down in the ocean off a desolate point of land called Cape Farewell, Greenland.
George's dreams went with him that day . . . until now!
Through the help of the Veteran Support Community George's nephew, Joel Lavenson, haas been able to create a place for such US veterans, wounded and challenged.
It is happening at Camp in Maine!
"Be Bold and Mighty Forces Will Come to Your Aid"
Your Story Here!
Brendan Higgins
Brendan grew up in Readfield, Maine with his family before joining the Army in 1998. Like many Mainers, Brendan enjoyed many outdoor activities including snowboarding, skating, and off-roading. Being from a small town, Brendan wished to further himself and found the Army the best way to do so. His time in the military allowed him to travel overseas to locales such as Egypt and Israel and for two years he advanced rank quickly, catching the eyes of his superiors. In 2000, he was in an automobile accident while on leave, 3 days after becoming eligible for advancement to Sargent.
“After years of dealing with medical issues related to my injury I am now finally able to get out and do some of the things I used to enjoy, but the day to day challenges of being disabled make this difficult, to say the least. Like most people who grew up in the woods of Maine, I used to spend all my time outdoors until I was no longer able.
I hope to help change that and make a huge difference in the lives of many people all over the world.”
Elwin Earle GODFREY
Elwin Earle Godfrey, formerly of Winthrop and Readfield, passed away on Thursday afternoon, May 23, with his family at his side.
Born in Litchfield Corner on Oct. 26, 1933, Roland and Leona Fish Godfrey, Elwin attended Litchfield schools.
Elwin proudly served his country in the Air Force from 1951 to 1959, which included the Korean conflict. He then enlisted in the Navy Reserve (Seabees) in 1966 and deployed for a year to Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star with V for Valor and became a brother warrior in Green Berets C Company, 5th Special Forces.
Elwin retired from the state of Maine Department of Transportation after 26 years. He worked for various construction companies until he and his wife, Eleanor, opened E&E Seafood in Windham. He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1960. He was also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; a member of American Legion Post 155, Casco, and most recently Post 51, Oakland.
Elwin married Eleanor Packard on July 3, 1954 and he is survived by his wife and his children: Patty, and her husband, Richard; Liz; Mark and his wife, Kathy; Monica and her husband, Charlie; and Amy and her husband, Mike. He has 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Godfrey, of Oakland; a sister, Joann Deming, of Fountain Valley, California, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.