Three Generations of the Loring Family
By Carol McCracken
Loring Memorial Park was dedicated to the memory of Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. in 2000. Earlier today some members of his family were at the Park planting geraniums and preparing the site for the upcoming summer season. Paul, brother of Charles and some family members will return in the fall to plant mums. In the meantime, Paul & Family make frequent trips to the Park to weed and water – since the Park has no access to city water.
Major Loring enlisted in the service in 1942. He served in World War II as an Air Force pilot. He was shot down and spent time in a prison camp. Loring served once again in the Korean conflict. During a bombing mission over North Korea, he sacrificed his life rather than be taken a prisoner of war once again. He died on November 22, 1952. He was awarded the Medal of Honor “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk at his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy.”
“We have three generations of the Loring family here today,” said Roberta Loring Donnini, niece of Paul. “It makes us feel good to do this. A core group of the family gets involved in honoring my uncle‘s memory.” Michael, Paul’s son was at the Park. Roberta’s husband, Bill and their daughter, Danielle, made up the three generations honoring the memory of Major Loring. Barbara, another niece of Paul’s and a sister of Roberta, was present as well. Their father, the late Harold, served on the Portland City Council for 12 years and was twice Mayor of Portland. The attractive Roberta said that she still considers herself a “Hill Girl” since she was raised on the Hill.
“My brother graduated from Chevrus High School so there is a display over there of his memorabilia,” said Paul who spearheaded the effort to dedicate the Park to his late brother. Moreover, Paul’s efforts had another positive result for the circle. It necessitated the cleaning -up of a long neglected area full of litter and other discarded material into a source of pride and an asset on the Hill.
So when Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 25, it would be a place to take some time to remember our fallen heroes – who sacrificed their lives for mankind everywhere.
Hi Emily,
Just spoke with a Paul Loring, 79, (and very handsome and nice!) and he didn’t recognize your name off hand, but said that maybe you are related to him because you are a niece of his. It was a large family and there is only one sibling of his still alive, that is Renee Scott who lives in Portland. I think Paul was the youngest of the entire family. He does not have a computer and of course an email address (guess he’s too old, he says!) so he can’t communicate with you that way. He’s divorced, but has a girlfriend, Gail, who he will ask to remail you – I don’t know when that will be, though. In the meantime, he said to tell you to call him at (207) 772-4950. He also lives at 36 Bolton, Portland, ME according to the phone book. I don’t know his zip, but you can probably figure that out, if you don’t want to call him. (He’s watching the football playoff games today!)
Apologies for being so slow to respond to your email and hope you find out something really neat about your Maine relatives. The Loring family here in Portland is a highly respected family. Paul’s father was Mayor of the City once and Charles is a hero up here.
Pls. let me know if I can help any other way.
Good Luck,
Carol
ca10cken@aol.com
Hi Lorings! I am the daughter of Esther Grace Loring, of Perry Maine. Her Parents were Grace Bel Rockwood Loring, and Jeremiah Loring.
There are still a nest of Lorings in and around Perry, Maine. I just found a clip of Major Loring, Jr. in my Mother’s paperwork.. She is deceased. I am interested in seeing if there is any link between the Mass. Lorings and the Maine ones.
Thaks cuzn.s
Andrea
Hi Lorings! I am the daughter of Esther Grace Loring, of Perry Maine. Her Parents were Grace Bel Rockwood Loring, and Jeremiah Loring.
There are still a nest of Lorings in and around Perry, Maine. I just found a clip of Major Loring, Jr. in my Mother’s paperwork.. She is deceased. I am interested in seeing if there is any link between the Mass. Lorings and the Maine ones.
Thaks cuzn’s
Andrea
Andrea Lintott’s avatar
Andrea Lintott on September 14, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Hi Lorings! I am the daughter of Esther Grace Loring, of Perry Maine. Her Parents were Grace Bel Rockwood Loring, and Jeremiah Loring.
There are still a nest of Lorings in and around Perry, Maine. I just found a clip of Major Loring, Jr. in my Mother’s paperwork.. She is deceased. I am interested in seeing if there is any link between the Mass. Lorings and the Maine ones.
Thanks cuzn’s
Andrea
One of my very best friends died in April after battling pancreatic cancer for more than sixteen months. Her name was Aldor Loring Matta-Jacobs. She told me many stories about her father and how proud she was of him. I recently read a story that her son Joe wrote on his facebook page. He was honoring her fight against cancer. I viewed his pictures and saw a picture of his maternal grandfather, Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. I googled him and saw your family article. I live in New Orleans. My friend and her family lives in Mandeville and Madisonville, LA.
To the Loring family,
We Mainers are, and will always be, so proud of the Major and his selfless and gallant act on that day in 1952. A true Hero.