BRUNSWICK – If Brunswick Naval Air Station closes, sending the base’s 4,000 military personnel to other installations, a vast pool of volunteers would dry up.
In any given week, 100 or more people from the base give their time to local schools and nonprofit organizations.
Each of the air base’s P-3 Orion squadrons has adopted a local elementary school where they volunteer to help in a variety of ways, from remodeling classrooms to reading with children.
Meanwhile, groups such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath-Brunswick, the 55 Plus Center, the Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath and Habitat for Humanity all receive free help from the base.
“We’re nervous,” said Beth Powers, executive director of the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross. “If the base closed, it would have a huge impact.”
The Red Cross gets a steady stream of volunteers from the base, including committed blood donors and at least 300 time-to-time volunteers.
Part of the support is institutional. Though no Navy person is ordered to donate time to a local agency, it is encouraged. Because of its long-standing relationship with the military, the Red Cross is a favored institution. The Brunswick base’s commanding officer, Capt. Robert Winneg, sits on the chapter’s board of directors.
When new offices were sought, Navy construction workers donated their labor to build a 2,500-square-foot building in Topsham.
Had the Red Cross been forced to pay for the work, said Powers, “It would have tripled our costs.”
At Coffin Elementary School, volunteers have remodeled at least one classroom, landscaped the property and met with children.
They know their Navy helpers as members of the “Fighting Tigers,” Patrol Squadron Eight.
Principal Walter Wallace keeps a photo in his office of one of the squadron’s P-3 Orions flying above Sicily. He also keeps a medallion of the squadron’s tiger insignia.
“I don’t think it would be possible to replace them,” Wallace said. “They really love to do this work.”
The help matters, particularly at a school with a large number of Navy children. Of the 450 children at the school, 56 percent are the sons and daughters of Navy people, Wallace said.
“It’s very different from any other school I’ve been in in Maine,” said Wallace, who has taught in several communities. Kids have moved here from all over the world.
“They’ve seen and experienced things the other kids haven’t,” Wallace said. “If they were not here anymore, it would be a great loss.”
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