In the heart of the local art scene lays one of the least known or appreciated spaces in all of Portland…the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). There are 65 MEPS located all over the country, many on military installations, and they are the first official stop America’s brave sons and daughters (known for now as “applicants”) will take if they enlist in our nation’s Armed Forces. Portland MEPS has a humble yet very public location - tucked away on the third floor of a non-descript building located between Monument Square and the Maine College of Art. Fittingly, humble perfectly describes many of the applicants who spend the day at MEPS navigating their way through a tiring maze of medical tests, aptitude batteries, and paperwork. Should they meet the strict requirements demanded of a modern patriot, they will raise their right hand and swear “to defend(ing) the Constitution of the United States of America…” in a room named for Army Master Sergeant Gary Ivan Gordon; a Mainer from Lincoln who gave his life in Somalia, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and whose heroic actions are memorialized in the movie Blackhawk Down.
If you pay close attention to the street scene near MEPS, you will spot various uniformed service-members entering and exiting the building on a regular basis. They have already dedicated their life to protecting democracy around the globe, just as these applicants aspire to do. Walking seamlessly through the eclectic scene one expects of a true art district, these camouflaged men and women of valor stand apart for their willingness to serve but ironically are easy to overlook in the hustle and bustle of Congress Street. In the very heart of Maine’s most metropolitan vibe, the military maintains a quiet presence. No frills; just a quiet, confident service.
