RUMFORD – When viewers watch the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington on television Saturday, it shouldn’t be hard to spot the Maine contingent.

All 100 of them will be decked out in blaze orange caps, identifying them as the Maine delegation attending the dedication.

One driving force for local veterans getting to the dedication is Loretta Bard, a nurse at the Rumford Veterans Clinic.

For nearly nine months Bard has been on the phone making calls to bus companies, hotels in Washington, and finding out about the seemingly millions of details needed to get a group of Rumford area World War II veterans to the event.

She’s even done a pre-trip trip to check things out.

Finding a way to get WWII veterans to the much overdue dedication of a monument in their honor has been important to Bard. She works with them every day, and hears their stories.

“The war was an extremely important part of their lives,” Bard says. “I looked at them, at their age. They never really complain. I realized they were finally getting recognition and that was very important. I felt if they had the energy, I could be supportive of them to get there.”

Bard, from Farmington, comes from a military family. Several relatives have served. Her husband was in the army during the Vietnam war, and a nephew has served in Iraq. She had wanted to join, but things happened so she couldn’t.

“Maybe that’s one of the reasons I am doing this,” she thought.

World War II veteran Albert “Red” Paul has helped her in planning the trip.

“He’s been a wonderful mentor. He knows the resources and I’ve leaned on him to help,” she said.

Paul came up with the name for the contingent traveling to Washington – The River Valley Veterans Association.

Area groups have helped, too.

The blaze orange caps are donations from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1641 in Rumford; the Farmington and Rumford American Legion posts, and the local Eagles Club kicked in funds; and individuals made contributions to help send veterans who couldn’t afford the trip’s cost.

Although most of veterans and others who are making the trip are from the River Valley area, others come from Hampden, Lewiston, Auburn, Norway, Fayette, Livermore and Livermore Falls, Wilton, Dryden, Farmington and a dozen other towns.

American Legion Maine State Adjutant Ron Sailor said he knows of a few people here and there who are driving to Washington for the dedication, but he knows of no organized group other than Rumford’s.

“It will be an emotional experience,” said Bard.

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