CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou’s Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery will be dedicated to the memory of John Noble, according to the program for the event.
Without Noble, the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery likely wouldn’t exist, as he and his wife Joyce agreed to donate land to the state for the facility in 1999. After forming a non-profit cemetery corporation consisting of members of numerous area veterans’ organizations, presenting a plan to the United States Veterans Administration, Soderberg Construction began work on the cemetery in 2002. In mid 2003, the facility was complete, and the cemetery’s official website specifically thanks John and Joyce Noble for their “gracious” donation of “33.4 acres of land.”
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- Keynote Speaker and Cary Medical Center CEO Kris Doody, left, and Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Board Chairman Harry Hafford perform the laying of the wreath during the Nov. 11, 2016, NMVC Veterans Day ceremony. (Staff photo/Christopher Bouchard)
Noble’s obituary cites his donation of the “family farm” to the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery as one of his “proudest achievements.”
Meagan Dube, a high school junior, performed “Taps” during the Veterans Day Ceremony held Nov. 11 last year at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou. (Staff photo/Christopher Bouchard)
The Nov. 11 event is set to commence at 11 a.m. at the 37 Lombard Road facility, and will feature U.S. Sen. Angus King as the keynote speaker.
Additionally, Father Paul Labrie will provide an invocation and benediction, Jamie Deschesne will perform “The National Anthem” and “Amazing Grace,” and Larry Hall will play taps near the ceremony’s conclusion.
As with all events at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, the American Legion Post 147 of Madawaska will give a 21 gun salute to the Legion Riders, Loring Job Corps Honor Guard will present the colors, and C.B. Smith of Virtual Managed Solutions in Caribou will provide coffee and hot chocolate for guests.
