Bookmark & share:

E-mail this page E-mail a letter to the editor Reader Comments (below)

By MECHELE COOPER
Staff Writer 09/22/2007

But the Maine Turnpike Authority says it is legally bound to collect the money, which could total $5,000-$10,000, depending on the number of riders who participate in the event.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 motorcyclists are expected to accompany the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall on Sunday as it travels up the Maine Turnpike from the York weigh station to Lewiston.

The 240-foot-long wall will be displayed Sept. 28-30 at the Veterans Park in Lewiston.

Steve Page, commander of American Legion Post 132 in Richmond and a member of the American Legion Riders, said Friday that charging a toll is a slap in the face to Vietnam veterans.

"It's outrageous," said Page, a retired Green Beret. "Here we are escorting a national treasure and we have to pay tolls to do it."

Bud Conner, legal officer for Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five at the Navel Air Station in Brunswick, said he will be riding down to York with 35 other motorcyclists, including Page.

He has been instructed to collect the money ahead of time so he can pay the tolls before the run begins.

Conner said each biker will pay a $2.50 toll down to York and then $3 when they escort the wall up to the Lewiston exit.

"Numerous people from the planning committee have talked to the (Maine) Turnpike Authority and the governor's office to no avail," Conner said. "They are not interested in giving 2,000 motorcycle riders a break. The TA is seeing dollar signs."

Dan Paradee, spokesman for the Maine Turnpike Authority, said it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the law.

The Turnpike Authority is required by its bond resolution to collect a toll from everyone who uses the roadway unless it's an emergency situation.

"Just like any other contract, we borrow money on Wall Street and have thousands of investors invest in the Maine Turnpike to borrow money to build the roads and build the bridges," Paradee said. "When you borrow money, you make promises that you will collect tolls. You don't have the luxury to decide who can go toll-free and who can't."

He said the authority has worked out a plan with organizers. Everyone will meet at the York weigh station and the toll money will be collected in advance.

State police will guide the motorcade up the turnpike and everyone will ride through the toll booths without stopping, he said.

"There's thousands of people on the turnpike right now doing wonderful things, people going for cancer treatments or to serve the elderly and they're all paying a toll," he said. "But the bottom line is if we allow 2,000 motorcyclists to go free, we would violate our bond resolution and we would be sued and the tollpayers of Maine would be required to deal with all the costs associated with that."

Not everyone sees the Maine Turnpike Authority as the bad guy.

Mike Martel of the Fortin Group-Dignity Memorial Wall Committee said he believes the people at the Turnpike Authority would love to let the bikers ride its highway for free.

And he understands that the decision to charge tolls has to do with federal funding and laws.

"It's just a given we operate with," Martel said. "The only problem with it is that it detracts from the actual event, the beauty of bringing the wall to Lewiston and Auburn."

David Farmer, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci, said the governor recognizes the importance of the event.

Farmer said his office has been working with organizers to make sure they have a State Police escort and the event is a success.

"There's lots of worthy causes and worthy groups that come into the state and certainly this is an example of this," Farmer said. "It's difficult to make it an exception. The rules are fairly specific."

He said the state has the highest rates of residents per capita who have served in the military. And the governor understands that the military works hard to honor these folks.

"It's unfortunate that they're angry," Martel said of the disgruntled bikers. "It's not an insult.

"The wall, even though it is a replica, is still very moving. I've seen it on a number of occasions in Washington (D.C.). I lived there more than a decade. It's a powerful memorial to have in this state."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com

Bookmark and share this story: