ORONO – Tim Berry’s photo may never land in the dictionary, but as far as Livermore Falls Vietnam War veteran Michael Simoneau is concerned, it should.

“Probably when you look up ‘tough’ in the dictionary, his picture ought to be there,” said Simoneau, a member of American Legion Post No. 10 in Livermore Falls.

Berry, a University of Maine at Farmington art student dressed in a pink gown he crafted from plastic table cloths, is walking from Gorham to Presque Isle to promote lifestyle tolerance and raise money for United Way chapters along his route.

It takes a lot of courage to walk the length of Maine in a dress during the winter, Simoneau said. “There are plenty of reasons to admire (Berry), both the act and what comes from it.”

Berry said he was pleasantly surprised when he dropped in on the vets at the hall on Reynolds Road last Saturday to take part in their annual Valentine’s Day pancake breakfast.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the first time, in the life of that building, there’s ever been a drag queen at the Legion Hall,” said Berry who was taking a one-day break from his march up the 300-mile length of Maine.

Legion Commander Bert Simoneau, Michael’s father and a World War II vet, confirmed that. “Not in all my 64 years at the Legion has there been one – never in my life,” Bert Simoneau said. He saw Berry briefly on Valentine’s Day morning but didn’t get to speak with him. The post commander said he was pleased that the other veterans treated Berry kindly. “That’s what we try to do.”

So far, barring five or six “negative comments” shouted by passing motorists, Mainers have been largely tolerant, if not downright supportive of his trek, Berry said via cell phone from his parents’ home in Orono on Thursday.

A woman he met as he walked into Orono wanted to take his picture, he said. “She’s taking one picture a day of something positive and sending it to her friend who is fighting breast cancer,” Berry said. “I gave her a hug and my card.” The card, which tells people how to donate to the various United Way chapters, was in pretty rough shape.

The woman came back later with 200 professional quality business cards and gave them to him, Berry said. The cards were cranked out at a local Staples. When the staff at Staples learned who they were for, they donated the cards, Berry said.

He said the positive encounters and music on his iPod helps ward off the monotony of walking about 20 miles a day. His feet were holding up but he did have some blisters and his legs were tired, but so far the weather, beyond a few cold days, had been pretty good, Berry said. “I’ve been lucky,” he said. His support crew follows him, filming the trek. Berry hopes to make a documentary about the effort later this year, he said.

He planned to set out again Friday morning and hoped to finish the second half of his trip – about 150 miles – by next Friday. So far, he’s raised about $650, he said.

On Thursday he was resting and repairing his outfit, which had so far held up and was keeping him warm.

“But it is a little bit sadder than when I started,” he said.

Copy the Story Link