By Lisa Wilcox
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| Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox The current committal shelter at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery will be replaced in 2013 with a structure that is expected to be more effective in blocking the wind and rain during services. NMVCC was awarded a grant from the Veterans Administration for construction of the new shelter. |
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — After years of frustration over design flaws in their current committal shelter, the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery has finally acquired the funds to build a new one.
The cemetery corporation was recently awarded a grant from the Veterans Administration in the amount of $334,500 for the purpose of constructing a new shelter.
“The current shelter doesn’t block the wind or rain,” explained NMVCC Chairman Harry Hafford. “The seats are set up the wrong way. This is a very important opportunity for us to correct that.”
Hafford advised that the roof of the new shelter will run from north to south instead of the east to west direction of the current shelter. In order to provide shade, block the wind and keep out other weather elements, the new structure will consist of three seven-foot walls and four large pillars to hold up the steep pitched roof, which will extend out beyond the piers. The open end of the shelter will be on the south side, facing the viewing stand.
“The new shelter will be more user friendly,” Hafford assured.
Plans for the shelter are moving along quickly, according to Hafford. An architect has been hired and the design has been sent to the VA in Washington for review. Hafford advises NMVCC should be ready by spring to put the project out to bid to hire a contractor.
Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Director David Richmond answered the question of what will happen to the old shelter.
“It will make a nice shed,” he said.
The new shelter will also be accompanied by another addition to the cemetery: a newly constructed 18-spot parking lot located by the viewing stand.
Work began on the parking lot in the fall of 2012 and, Hafford says, is about 90 percent complete. Hafford expects the new spaces will be ready for use by Memorial Day.
Caribou businessman and NMVCC board member John T. Noble donated the labor and materials to create the lot.
