OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Right now, a Cobra helicopter flown in the Vietnam War is being towed along the interstate, making its way north from South Carolina. On Friday, it will exit in Biddeford and be escorted by motorcycles on its way to The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach. It’s expected to arrive after 4 p.m. to begin the three-day POW/MIA Recognition Weekend.

Event organizer and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7997 member Russ Warriner said the helicopter was used in his unit, the Second Battalion 20th Artillery First Calvary Division. Warriner served as a crew chief and a door gunner from November 1967 to June 1969.

“The POW issue has been part of my life since 1968,” said Warriner, his voice welling up with emotion. That was when a pilot serving in his unit was taken into a prisoner of war camp. The pilot, Michael O’Connor, was released in 1973. Warriner has not seen O’Connor since the day before he was taken prisoner, and the two will be reunited this weekend as O’Connor will be coming from California to attend the event.

Warriner recalls a trip to the Maine Military Museum where he saw a replica of a cramped prisoner of war camp cell and thought about what O’Connor and other prisoners of war had been through.

“When I saw that, it took the wind out of my sails big time,” he said.

The event will continue through Sunday, with veterans exhibits such as a banner with the names of the 559 Mainers still missing in action, and music that includes the Kora Highlander Bagpipers and Vietnam veteran and singer “Country” Jim Palmer.

The event intends to raise money for wounded heroes in Maine, as well as bring more understanding to the POW/MIA issue. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. There will be program books for sale, which Warriner said will become collector’s items, and a large number of items will be raffled off, including a kayak and a handmade quilt from Casco Bay Quilters.

Gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with special guest Ann LePage, followed by ceremonies at 11:50 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Other guests will include Peter Ogden, director of the Bureau of Veterans’ Services, and Gold Star Mother Chaplain Nancy Kelley.

Sunday’s events will begin at 9 a.m. with a memorial service that is open to the public, and end with closing ceremonies at 4 p.m.

The helicopter and motorcycle brigade will run down Alfred Street in Biddeford to the Main streets of Biddeford and Saco, down Route 1 and onto Cascade Road through Old Orchard Beach, to Old Orchard Street, down First Street, Union Street and down E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard to The Ballpark. People are encouraged to line the streets and wave as the Cobra passes by.

Also at The Ballpark, local economic development group OOB365 will be holding its Autumn Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Town Councilor and OOB365 member Sharri MacDonald announced the coinciding events at this week’s town council meeting and urged people to go.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” said MacDonald. “We’ve got a huge weekend planned.”

The Autumn Festival will include a farmer’s market, chili cook-off, corn toss, children’s performers, face painting and a wood carving show.

The weekend’s events are hosted by OOB365, the VFW Post 7997 and the AMVETS.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.