LEWISTON — Gerald Cloutier is among a few dozen veterans from Maine who will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this weekend to visit memorials honoring their service.

Gerald Cloutier Contributed photo

The trip is sponsored by Honor Flight Maine, a nonprofit that raises funds to send veterans on a guided tour of the U.S. capital to visit and reflect upon the memorials.

Cloutier, 91, who served during the Korean War, will receive a special send-off party Thursday at Montello Heights retirement community at 550 College St. beginning at 2 p.m.

Honor Flight Maine sends the veterans, accompanied by one guardian each. Joining Cloutier this weekend is his son, Michael.

Cloutier was one of 19 children who were raised in the Twin Cities. He graduated from St. Dominic High School and studied as a machinist. He served in the Army from March 1953 to June 1956. He followed that by serving in the reserves for the next 28 years, retiring as a sergeant first class.

While in the reserves, Cloutier worked as a machinist at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from 1958-1967.

He then worked as a civilian technician for Auburn-based 1125th U.S. Army Hospital. He ran day-to-day operations for the unit’s 200 members through 1995.