A Maine Public Limited Series Podcast and Travelling Exhibit
In the summer of 2023, Maine Public partnered with Story Corps in a Military Voices Initiative to capture the stories of Maine veterans who served in the Armed Forces. During the recording sessions, veterans shared details about their families, their time of service, and how their service in the military affected their lives.
Their stories are intriguing, personal, and diverse. While all the stories were compelling, Maine Public chose ten to highlight in a special podcast series leading up to Veteran’s Day 2024 in addition to a traveling exhibit stopping at various locations around the state.
You can listen to the entire podcast series below or listen to them where you usually find your favorite podcasts.
Military Voices of Maine is hosted by Keith Shortall and produced by Allison New and Keith Shortall.
We want to thank the veterans and their families who shared their stories with us. It is their stories that have made this series possible. Thank you for your service.
Stop by and check out our Maine Military Voices Exhibit at one of these dates and locations:
- November 3 at the Veterans and Community Connection Expo at Cabela's in Scarborough
- November 4 to 8 at the Bangor Public Library in Bangor
- November 12 at the Hall of Flags at the Statehouse in Augusta
- November 26 through the end of the year at the Maine Military Historical Society in Augusta
Military Voices of Maine is brought to you by a partnership with Maine Public and Story Corps, as well the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We want to thank our sponsors LEE Auto Malls, Wreaths Across America, and FEDCAP Maine for making the series possible.
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In the first episode of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll meet Lieutenant Helen Siragusa. Helen was a United States Naval Nurse who cared for quadriplegics and paraplegics who were injured in combat during WWII. Helen served at Saint Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island. At the time of the interview, Helen was 99 years old. -
In Episode 2 of the Military Voices of Maine, we’ll introduce you to John and Leigh. John was an Army Officer and Leigh was a military contractor. Their love story begins against the backdrop of an Officer's Club called the Snake Pit. During their interview, John and Leigh share how they fell in love and how they faced the difficulty of separation while John was deployed in Vietnam. -
Military Chaplains are an integral part of the Armed Services. They not only serve as faith-based leaders to the men and women in the branches of our military but also as supportive counselors and often friends to those enlisted. In Episode 3 of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll hear the story of Lieutenant Commander Nathan Ferrell, who currently serves as a Chaplain in the United States Navy. -
In Episode 4 of Military Voices of Maine, we are introduced to Purple Heart recipient Master Sargent Daniel Moon. Daniel served for two years in WWII and then served again in the Korean War in the 1950’s. While serving in the Korean War, Daniel was engaged in active combat. He faced the harsh reality of what it means to engage in war. -
Art is not typically the first thing you think of when military service is mentioned in a conversation. Rarely do you picture a soldier wielding a paintbrush instead of a weapon. Angie is a veteran of Desert Storm, a member of the Maine Honor Guard, and proud of the service she dedicated to the United States. In this episode, we’ll meet Angie and hear how she used art during her time of service and after she retired. -
Episode 6 features Timothy Drake, or “Sarge” as he came to be called. Sarge joined the Marine Corps in 1987. He served a total of 26 years, during which he was deployed fifteen times. Four of those years he was involved in active combat. He wore multiple uniforms, serving in three different branches of the United States Armed Forces. Motivated by duty, honor, and service, Sarge takes immense pride in the relationships he fostered and the support he was able to offer his fellow servicemen. -
In Episode 7 of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll meet Quartermaster Stephen Simmonds. A WWII submarine veteran. Stephen joined the Navy at 18, ready for adventure and to serve his country. -
In Episode 8, we’ll hit the road with Pat and her best friend Diane. Together they will embark on a road trip to California, visiting new places and having the time of their lives. We’ll hear about how they eventually found themselves enlisted and stationed at Camp LeJune. Together their joy and shared excitement for experiencing new places will take us across the country and back again. -
In Episode 9, Lieutenant Brian Nickerson will share with us the tragic event of when a U.S. Navy plane was shot down in 1969. Brian lost friends and fellow service members on that flight. But despite his grief, he made it his mission to tell their story and make sure that those brave men were not forgotten. -
Military families are an important piece of the mission. Their role in supporting their active-duty family members gives soldiers comfort in knowing that someone is waiting for them to come home. In the tenth and final episode of Military Voices of Maine we are introduced to Justin and Emily Spencer. In this episode, Justin and Emily share the story of how they met, married, and started a family while Justin was enlisted and serving overseas.
