LEWISTON – The Northeast Chapter, Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, one of 34 chapters nationwide, will observe DE Day on Saturday, June 16. Memorial services will be held at Veterans Memorial Park to honor the 15 ships lost in combat during World War II. Five U.S. Navy yards and 12 shipbuilding companies launched 563 destroyer escorts between 1943 and 1945. The 300-foot ships carried crews of approximately 300 officers and men. Destroyer escorts proved to be effective and adaptive for services far beyond their original purpose of antisubmarine warfare and escort duties. This ability was demonstrated by destroyer escorts in their efforts as partners in the Normandy and Southern France invasions. In the Pacific, destroyer escorts fought against Japanese warships at Samar and Leyte Gulf and on the Okinawa Radar Picket Line.

Following the memorial service, a meeting will be followed by a meal of baked haddock, chicken parmesan and meat lasagna. Members are expected from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Bert Dutil, who has been instrumental in the development of Veterans Memorial Park, will be the speaker for the occasion. Any U.S. Navy or Coast Guard veteran who served aboard a DE, APD or a 1000-Class FF is eligible to join DESA. For more information in this area, call Jack Coady of Auburn, 782-6443; Normand Demers of Lewiston, 782-6468; or Andy Durisko of Lisbon Falls, 353-2750; or contact DESA at 800-603-3332; P.O. Box 3448, DeLand, Fla. 32721 or www.desa.org.