A Maine game warden who died in plane crash in Avon last week is being honored during a Thursday ceremony in Bangor.
The celebration of life for game warden Josh Tibbetts is being held on Thursday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The ceremony began at 10 a.m. with the arrival of uniformed law enforcement.
After law enforcement line up in the arena, guests will be allowed to enter beginning at 11 a.m.
The service itself will commence at 1 p.m. and the ceremony ends around 2 p.m. after a traditional playing of Taps, a firing salute, an aircraft flyover, the folding of the casket flag, the presentation of colors and a last call.
At the end of the ceremony, a motorcade will depart the Cross Insurance area.
Game warden pilot Josh Tibbetts, an 18-year veteran with the Maine Warden Service, including three years as a pilot, was flying a plane to help stock fish in western Maine when he crashed around 11 a.m. on May 12 in Avon.
Tibbetts was the only one in the plane when it crashed. He died at the scene.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating the crash.
According to his obituary, Tibbetts worked as a Penobscot County sheriff’s deputy before fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot for the Maine Warden Service.
He worked tirelessly to earn his pilot’s license, combining two of his passions — flying and the outdoors.
He is survived by his two daughters, his partner and a large extended family.
Gov. Janet Mills has ordered that U.S. and state flags be lowered to half-staff on Thursday in honor of Tibbetts. Flags also are being lowered on Thursday in honor of Gerald Talbot, the state’s first elected Black legislator and a civil rights activist who died on May 9 at age 94.
Talbot will be honored at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
