Avitat/Bangor at the Bangor International Airport (BGR)

had a well known visitor around 7:00 p.m. on the evening of Monday, January 9, 2006. Former President Bill Clinton made a refueling stop in Bangor after returning from a meeting in Paris with France’s President Jacques Chirac. Upon arrival, smoke was detected in the cockpit of his Falcon jet, causing an unexpected lay-over. When he heard that the Airport had a couple of troop flights coming home from Iraq, he decided to join the staunch local troop greeters to welcome the two flights. Clinton shook hands and spoke with almost 600 soldiers. The former president had his picture taken with cameras and cell phones, talked to soldier’s loved ones on the cell phones donated by Unicel for the soldier’s use when they reach U.S. soil, and said “thank you for your service” to as many as he could shake hands with or hug. Clinton left around 10:00 p.m. after the troop greeting and repairs had been made on his jet.