MEXICO — Memorial Day was an especially proud day for the members of the Mexico Police Explorer Post 364.

The Rumford-Mexico parade and ceremonies was an ideal venue to display the post’s 1987  former military Humvee, police Sgt. Roy Hodsdon said.

The vehicle is in mint condition, has 20,000 miles on the odometer, an eight-cylinder diesel engine, four wheel drive and automatic transmission.

“We estimate the value of the vehicle, including all the value-added features the United States Air Force contributed,” Hodsdon said, “is roughly $40,000.

“We got the vehicle completely free of charge, with absolutely no expense to the taxpayer,” Hodsdon said, “through the military’s surplus demobilization program.

“When we applied for the vehicle we had to explain what we would use the vehicle for,” he said.

“The Humvee will be put to use by the Explorers and the department for ATV trail patrols, medical evacuations, traffic control, drug eradication efforts and as a huge public relations asset for recruiting new members for the post,” Hodsdon said.

“We have put in over 200 hours of labor into the Humvee since we had the vehicle brought up by flat-bed truck from Fort Dix, New Jersey,” he said.

The labor included stripping unnecessary equipment, cleaning and repainting it to match the Police Department’s colors of black exterior and silver interior. The outside details included the Police Explorer Post official insignia, created by Sgt. Hodsdon’s wife, Renee, and applied to the vehicle by Erik’s Design.

A significant amount of the labor was done by Hodsdon and other members of the Mexico Police Department, MPD explorer members, including Cameron Barrieu and Rob Drouin, who took weekends away from their college studies, Roland’s Automotive of Mexico and others.

“The Explorers worked hard to raise money for the Humvee’s transportation cost from New Jersey and other expenses,” Hodsdon said. “They organized and ran a Comedy Night at Mountain Valley High School last February.

“We are thankful for many organizations and individuals who donated services free of charge or at reduced cost,” Hodsdon said, “including the Rumford Police Department, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department, Roland’s Automotive, Empty Pockets, Erik’s Designs, the Legion Riders, among others.”

“The Humvee really came out great,” said Rob Drouin an officer in the Explorer Post and a 2010 graduate of Mountain Valley High School. He and others got to take turns driving it and other members marched in military precision in their dress uniform.

During Memorial Day ceremonies at the Mexico Greens park, Post members Cam Barrieu, Justin Carter and Rob Drouin presented Larry and Patti McLain with a U.S. flag in memory of their son, Army Pfc. Buddy McLain, who was killed in action in Afghanistan last November.

“I could not have been more proud of these young men and women,” Hodsdon said after witnessing their poise and professionalism Monday.

Post 364 is open to any young man or woman in the River Valley between the ages of 14 and 21. For more information call Hodsdon at the Mexico Police Department at 364-5686.

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