Staff Writer
Every now and then a surprise is planned to recognize someone for work they have accomplished, for volunteering, or for helping out in one way or another. Every now and then the individual who is being honored, humbly accepts the recognition but at the same time manages to sincerely turn the thanks around.
Contributed photo
Wayne Little, left, commander of the Henry B. Pratt Jr., America Legion and Douglas Michaud, Lister/Knowlton VFW commander, right, recently presented Jacob Kiehn, a student at Caribou High School with a plaque and savings bond in recognition of the respect he portrays to his country each day through raising and lowering the State of Maine and U.S. flags.
Enter Caribou High School student, Jacob Kiehn, who according to Mark Jones, principal at the school, walks to school everyday, regardless of the weather and is most always on the school grounds before 99 percent of the school population arrives, including the faculty.
“I get to the school around 6:45 a.m. every morning,” said Jones, “and I always see Jacob walking, he won’t accept a ride, no matter what the weather is like. He arrives at school early, comes in and gets the Maine and U.S. flags, takes them out and gets them flying, then before he leaves in the afternoon he lowers them and brings them back inside.”
At one point Jones said he noticed that Kiehn wasn’t sure of the proper way to fold the flags so, “I spent some time with him, demonstrating the correct way and now Jacob folds them every afternoon prior to leaving school. I often see him finishing up, tucking the corners in to complete the triangle — he really shows a lot of respect for the flag — it’s very impressive.”
Kiehn, who also earns community service hours through this daily flag routine, had some unexpected company while raising the flags on the morning of April 13. Douglas Michaud, commander of the Lister/Knowlton VFW Post and Wayne Little, commander of the Henry B. Pratt, Jr. American Legion, joined the high school student as he prepared to raise the flags on the pole in front of CHS.
The two veterans’ organization commanders were there to present Kiehn with a plaque and a savings bond, in recognition of his conscientious effort in making sure the flags are flown and lowered each day and the respect he exhibits.
According to veteran and faculty member Neil Genz, who witnessed the event, “The Freedom Riders were there with their Harleys all shined up and stood in formation as the flag was raised. As he was raising the flag Jacob hummed a bit of ‘Reveille,’ then turned to face the Freedom Riders, saluted them and said, ‘Thank you for your service to our country.’”
“He did this from his heart,” continued Genz. “I tell you, there were a few moist eyes in the group. Jacob’s family was there, including his grandfather, Robert ‘Bob’ Day, who is a disabled veteran from the Korean War. This whole recognition was total surprise to him (Jacob).”
Jacob is the son of John and Kim Kiehn.
