Veterans Memorial’s Inauguration Celebrated on Veterans Day
By: David Deschesne
Fort Fairfield Journal, November 26, 2014
After two years from the start of its planning stages, the Veterans Memorial at Fort Fairfield’s V.F.W. Post 6187 is now complete.
Over 200 people attended the inaugural ceremony for the memorial on Veterans Day where representatives from both the U.S. and Canadian armed forces were in attendance.
John Holschuh, Commander for Post 6187 conceived the idea in 2012 after finding the old veterans memorial in a state of disrepair.
“It all started two years ago on Veterans Day. At the old memorial, my foot went through the step as I was laying a wreath and that’s unacceptable to me, veterans need better than that,” said Holschuh. “So, I started brainstorming and came up with this design, along with Northern Maine Community College, who helped me in a big way.”
The memorial’s main entrance sign by the road was conceived and installed by Trevor Graves and scouts from local Boy Scout troop 194 helped him install it as part of his Eagle Scout project. He started the project at the first of this year. “It may not look like much, but it’s really been a lot. Over the year I’ve had tons of people help me, businesses, my family, my scoutmaster, and I give a great big thank-you to all of them.
The Fort Fairfield Middle/High School band played the Canadian and American National anthems for both countries’ color guards.
Representatives from Governor LePage’s office and Congressman Michaud’s office addressed the crowd as well as representatives from some of the wars commemorated at the memorial. Floyd Belmain spoke on behalf of the Korean War veterans; Paul Rediker, the Vietnam War; Mike Willette, the Gulf War and John Holschuh spoke a few brief words on behalf of the war he participated in, the Iraq War.
The several memorial stones at the Veterans Memorial commemorate World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the “War on Terror” - which is a new type of war compared to all the others because it is against an intangible, undefined enemy.
The Post 6187 provided a beans and hotdogs lunch after the ceremony.
Holschuh says the red brick pavers are still available at a cost of $35.00 each. There are already several dozen of the brick pavers installed at the center court of the memorial honoring veterans from the local area. Holschuh says those who are interested in purchasing a memorial brick for the memorial can contact a V.F.W. member, or call (207) 472-6005.