Bud & Lynne Tower

Many people may not know that Bud and Lynne Tower were among the original founders of the Maine Troop Greeters organization. From the very beginning, they were steadfast supporters of our Troops, dedicating immeasurable time to be there for the Troops and were also instrumental in helping the Maine Troop Greeter organization grow and thrive. Some people greet with a smile. Bud and Lynne Tower greeted with their hearts. From the earliest days of the Maine Troop Greeters, this remarkable couple stood among the founders—helping shape an organization that would forever touch the lives of service members passing through Bangor. Their story is one of service, love, and unwavering devotion—to each other, to their community, and to the men and women in uniform. This is their story

Bud (Ronald W.) Tower
Bud was born in Middletown CT on January 12, 1947. He spent his life there, attended a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from high school there in 1964. He then attended Vinyl Region Vocational school for two years for technical education. In 1966, he joined the Air Force, and was ultimately stationed at Bucks Harbor, Maine, where he served for four years as a technician. It was there that he met his beautiful wife, Lynne, while she was working at a take-out restaurant in Machias, where many of the Air Force and Navy service members went. Bud finally asked her on a date at the local drive-in movie theater, and the rest, as they say, is history. They married in 1970 and had three beautiful daughters who were the lights of their lives. Bud left the Air Force so he could be present for his family, continuing his career first with the Cutler Naval Radio Station and then with the FAA, where he worked for 32 years before retiring. Along the way, he became a Master Mason and a dedicated brother in the Masonic tradition. Sadly, Bud passed away on April 8, 2017.

Becoming a Maine Troop Greeter

He had heard about greeting the Troops while working for the FAA. In 2003, he became one of the founding members of the Maine Troop Greeter organization, along with Harry Rideout, Bill Dean, Dusty Fisher, and a few others. From the beginning, they organized snacks for the Troops, established the pager system to notify people to come out to greet, eventually organized the cell phone system, and more

He started taking pictures of the Troops in 2007 and started his website to share these pictures with their families. https://ourstopinmaine.smugmug.com/ Bud was at the airport to greet the Troops at all hours of the day and night. His focus was all about the Troops; to make sure that they felt valued, honored and appreciated. Every night when he came home, he was smiling. He just loved the Troops!

Lynne- a brief history
Lynne (Schoppee) Tower was born in Machias Maine in 1948 and attended Machias grade school and high school, graduating in a class of 47 students. She then went to Airline School in Hartford CT. After her wedding she attended Central Connecticut State for one year and then, the University of Maine Machias for three years, earning a bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education. After graduating, she worked for the University Library for one year until the children were born. As they grew up, she worked part-time at Helen’s restaurant for 19 years and loved it!

Greeting the troops

As mentioned, Lynne came to the airport to greet the Troops with Bud from the very beginning, in 2003. While Bud would greet the troops at all hours of the day and night, Lynne would greet mostly in the day and evening. However, from the moment she started, she was hooked and greeted as many flights as she could. Lynne and Bud were true patriots. Lynne joined the Patriot Guard (Cager) to attend Veteran funerals, another way to honor those who served.

Lynne has always been and continues to be a staunch supporter of our Troops. She has spent countless hours at the airport, talking to the Troops, connecting with them, taking pictures, and letting them know how much they are valued and appreciated. She also felt that talking with them when they were deploying was especially heartwarming. Lynne would always look for Troops with the names of Tower and Johnson (her mother’s maiden name). While it turned out that Johnson is one of the most common names in the U.S., she only met 2 Towers over the years. Like Bud, Lynne has always loved meeting and talking with the Troops

Some notes from the Troops and their families:
These are from the website, https://ourstopinmaine.smugmug.com/ that Bud and Lynne created:
https://ourstopinmaine.smugmug.com/Category/Emails/i-W2xvqdW

“I just wanted to take a minute to say a very special thank you. My husband recently left for Afghanistan and during his last text to me, he told me to check your website for pictures. You have no idea how much it meant to me and our two boys to open that page and see his smiling face. This is our third war deployment, but they never get any easier. Knowing he’s being taken care of by such amazing people when he stops in Maine is very comforting. Thank you again, and please know that you made the day of a family who really needed to see that smile. God bless! Sincerely, Janet B”

“Thank you so very much for the photos you took on April 25, 2013! My son was one of the young men returning that day!! The photo of him smiling while talking on the real land line phone is beyond precious to me! (Name on his uniform Simpson.) Thank you for welcoming our troops home from their long deployments! He told me how much it meant to him to have people there welcoming him back. I appreciate the time you take and the people that join you in welcoming them home! Much love from a soldier’s mama! Melissa May, Sumter, SC”

“Bud & Lynne, My husband came through Maine with his unit from Alaska last week and I just want to say a huge THANK YOU! You will never know how much it means to me to see the pictures you posted on your website! Our whole family is in the military, but this is our first deployment, and we have a one month old son. It never gets easier, but when there are kind and supportive people in the world like you, it gives the hearts of family members a chance to relax for a second. May God bless you and your family, and we wish you a very Merry Christmas! Thanks for giving me a wonderful gift of a picture of my husband! It may not seem like much to you, but it’s the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received! Thank you, Kayla”

“My son was recently at BIA on his way to Afghanistan. I can’t begin to tell you how much your site meant to me, my husband and my daughter in law. To see the company and especially our son was so great. It is even more meaningful to know that they were greeted warmly, thanked and shown such hospitality from strangers who became family tonight. What you are doing is so amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Annette, Proud mom of Cpl. 1/5 Marines bravo company 1st platoon”

“Hi–was on Facebook and my son-in-law was snapped at BIA by you folks–1st –let me say Thank You–I appreciate what you folks are doing. I spent 21 months at Dow AFB(BIA) as a security policeman–fond memories of Bangor. When I got back from Viet Nam–people threw eggs at us at San Francisco’s airport–Thank God you are there for my son-in-law and all those others you have served–Thank You again for your service to these young men and women—–A vet in PA”

“To all the members of your group, my sister is on her first deployment overseas. Thank you so very much for being at the airport to greet her and take her picture. This has really helped to make me and my mom feel better. It is because of kind people like you Ann Marie does her job. She was in your airport @ 1:25 am September 14. We are a close family and it is so hard having her leave, especially since she is our baby. Thank you for being able to show her love when we couldn’t be there. The kindness you showed her will never be forgotten and I thank you so much for that from the very bottom of my heart! May God Bless each one of you with his richest blessings, Mary”

“Our young son (19-year-old) is deployed for his first tour in Afghanistan over the past few days. I just saw his picture on your website!! It is very difficult as parents (and sister) to see him off. I wish I could express how meaningful these pictures are to us. More than that, knowing that you were there to greet them, welcome them, show that there are those that know and care about their sacrifices, and support them – that means so very, very much to us who can’t be there. Showing that kindness and support to our son is very moving to us. Thank you for your sacrifices of “standing guard” at the airport for all those hours. May God bless you for all that you do. Thank you, Laura”