By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU, Maine — U.S. Senator Angus King paid a visit to Aroostook County over the weekend, making a stop at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery on Saturday for the first time in the 10 years since the cemetery was constructed. The former governor of Maine was instrumental in getting a veterans cemetery placed in Aroostook County.
“Then Governor King signed the order to get the cemetery started,” said Harry Hafford, Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corporation chairman. “But during his visit, Senator King gave full credit to Major General Earl Adams, who was the state adjutant back in the ‘90s when the ball got rolling.”
Maj. Gen. Adams was also present during King’s visit, along with members of the NMVCC board.
Hafford led King through a tour of the grounds, showing him the work that had been done over the years, including a recently added parking lot, and the current construction taking place to build a new committal shelter.
“He was very impressed with all we’ve accomplished. The first thing he commented on was the Avenue of Flags,” Hafford said, referring to the 30 flags that fly in honor of deceased veterans at the cemetery’s entrance. “He said he didn’t expect that.”
In a statement, King expressed his awe at the cemetery and gratitude for the work that has gone into keeping it in pristine condition.
“It was an incredible privilege to visit the Northern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery and to pay tribute to the memory of Maine’s extraordinary veterans. Throughout our nation’s storied history, Mainers have bravely and selflessly answered the call to duty, and their tremendous sacrifice has time and again preserved the freedoms that we continue to enjoy to this day,” King said. “Their inspiring legacy lives on in our hearts, and I could not be more impressed by or grateful to the community’s work to honor that legacy through its ongoing efforts to beautify the cemetery, which is indicative of our belief as Mainers and Americans that our nation’s finest deserve a resting place equal to their great service.”
Hafford said that he thoroughly enjoyed King’s visit and hoped that the senator would be able to make it back for another tour in the future.
