Governor John E. Baldacci was the Honorary Grand Marshall of the Bangor Veterans’ Day Parade Monday morning. The Governor participated in the parade along with veterans, local dignitaries, bands, supporters and other organizations.

Governor Baldacci also honored veterans during his Weekly Radio Address, which aired on radio stations throughout Maine over the weekend. In the address, the Governor spoke of plans to submit legislation in January to create a veterans campus in Bangor.

“Our priorities are to add a new hospice facility, an outpatient clinic and new independent housing for veterans to the existing facility,” the Governor said in the radio address. “The changes won’t happen overnight, but we have a vision for what that campus should be, and we will work to make it happen. We have similar plans in northern, Downeast, and western and southern Maine – to submit these kinds of models to better take care of our veterans, their families and the support that they need.”

Joining Governor Baldacci on the reviewing stand at the Bangor parade was Charles Norman Shay of Indian Island. Shay is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War. Shay was honored earlier this year as Governor Baldacci proclaimed Native American Veterans History Day on June 6.

Shay’s unit was one of the first to land on Omaha Beach as part of the D-Day invasion. Shay was a 19-year-old combat medic in the 16th Regiment of the First Infantry Division at the time, and earned a Silver Star for his heroism on D-Day. Shay later returned to action serving in the Korean War as a combat medic. In the Korean War, he was promoted to Master Sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star.

“We can never express our thanks enough to those who have served,” Governor Baldacci said. “We honor them today, and keep them in our thoughts, prayers and hearts always.”