South Portland, Maine
Bug Light Park, Cushings Point at Madison Street
GPS coordinates: 43.653433,-70.233550
Take a photo of your rally flag with the above image.

Bug Light Park houses a park and lighthouse now, but during WWII the area was part of a bustling ship-building center in support of the war effort. Among those were hundreds (236 in 4 years – 5 ships launched every two months from each of the two shipyards here!) of Liberty Ships.

These ships were built to provide cargo carrying capacity for the war and helped replace British ships sunk by German U-Boats. They are often called “the ships that saved England” due to their role in bringing supplies and materials to that nation during the war. With the destruction of much of its surface fleet, England faced supply shortages that threatened to end the war quickly in Germany’s favor.

Liberty Ships were built by 18 shipyards around the U.S. and the 2,751 ships built between 1941 and 1945 make it the single most built ship design in history. Their construction came to symbolize American “can-do” and industrial supremacy.

Also in the area: Portland is home to a variety of places that are worth a stop during your Tour – including the Portland Freedom Trail, a network of 16 markers across the city that highlights the people and events associated with the Underground Railroad & anti-slavery movement in Portland and the Portland Observatory, the only remaining historic maritime signal tower in the United States.

Growing up in New England, no child escapes the lure of the classic Whoopie Pie. While its birthplace is disputed, with Pennsylvania also claiming to be the originator of this cake and cream dessert, it is the official Maine State Treat. Some of the best award-winning Whoopie Pies are to be found at Anania's Variety Store whose Broadway location is just a few blocks from Bug Light Park and the Liberty Memorial.

If you hanker for a more traditional taste of Maine and have time for a detour to Wiscasset, Red's Eats is arguably the best lobster shack in Maine where you'll find a whole lobster's meat in a soft hot dog bun with a side of butter for dipping.

Southbound, just before you leave this great state, take a short detour around the famous Kittery Outlets and seek out Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier where it's all about the lobster cooked in water pulled straight out of the seawater creek and served on round buns the way Grandma Spinney served it “about a million times.”

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Tour of Honor-New England is sponsored by Jim Hatch of Simsbury, CT.