To the editor:
This letter is written on behalf of Lister Knowlton VFW Post 9389, its officers and members, whom I must say are very proud Veterans who have served their country in the most fashionable manner in war and peace times so that we, the people of Caribou can ask why? An honest error was made by all concerned and we apologize for the error. The error which as I stated was an “honest error”.
We, the members of VFW Post 9389 have put out and retrieved the flags in Caribou in cold, rainy, snowy, icy weather for many more years than one can remember. I have assisted in putting those flags up and have never questioned anytime doing this in whatever kind of weather was occurring at that time. I have yet to see anyone in the community come forward and offer to assist, aside from the Boy Scouts Master, to put out and retrieve those flags. Nor have we seen anyone come forward and donate monies to purchase new flags when they are deteriorated or stolen from the poles, which have occurred on some occasions. We ask ourselves; why would any individual(s) want to steal an American flag? The only monies received from the city of Caribou are for the flags on the graves on Memorial Day.
Furthermore, we do not hear anyone in the community say anything in regard to those businesses in Caribou who fly the American flag as we have yet to see them lower it during any of these occasions, as directed by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Maine. We do give a great thanks to the Caribou School Department; S.W. Collins Co.; U.S. Post Office; County Commissioners; Veterans Center, County Federal Credit Union; Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou; Cary Medical Center; Caribou Veterans Home; National Guard and the DHS office for flying their U. S. flag on a daily basis and also lowering it to half staff when it is time to honor the Veterans. Yet, we ask, why is there not a U.S. Flag flying at the State of Maine vehicle registration office?
As we have reviewed the letters written, telephone calls and conversation that have approached to us, we ask the citizens of the city of Caribou to ask of themselves: Have I taken the time to say “thank you” to those Veterans who have and/or are serving their country? Have I taken the time to visit the Caribou Veterans Home and Nursing Home to see those Veterans who are there and may never come out again because of their illnesses? Have I taken the time when ceremonies were held at the Honor Roll; Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou; the Fort Fairfield Rd. bridge as we honor those who served at Pearl Harbor and those who were killed during the attack and the Monument to be there to honor those Veterans who have served and have never returned, as they were killed in action in war times? But last and foremost, I can remember of many parades that I and my fellow VFW Comrades have marched in very proudly and must say that we have seen very few people stand up and salute and/or put their right hand over their heart when the American flag went by.
As we members of VFW Post 9389 look back throughout our military service, we know of some of our friends who were killed in WWII, Korea and Vietnam; we never nor will we ever forget those unsung heroes nor should we as citizens of this great country and the city of Caribou. As we look at what is happening in this country and the world from Iraq, Afghanistan and recently in Fort Hood, tremendous tragedies have occurred and many soldiers have paid with their lives and so have their families who have lost their loved ones.
To say that one is ashamed of the Caribou VFW Veterans; I along with my fellow Veterans take a deep sorrow and regret in that as we have served our Country in the most proud and fashionable manner. I also ask that those people who are ashamed of the VFW Veterans for not putting the flags out on that day to come and face me, the VFW Veterans, the Pearl Harbor survivor who is in the Caribou Veterans Home or the Prisoner of War (POW) who are also members of the VFW Post in Caribou and say to them “Shame on you for not putting the flags out and shame on you for having served your country.” I must also say that there is no federal law that states when the flags must be displayed but they are displayed in respect of Veterans who have served their country on all those occasions that they need to be displayed.
Again, I will state that it was an honest error and to err is to be human, to make a mistake is also human. Also, for those who have questioned the display of the flag on November 11, please say “thanks” to those Veterans who have served their country to give you the right and choice to question anytime that you wish.
Lister-Knowlton VFW Post 9389
