To the editor:
Spring has certainly sprung and with that a renewed vision and hope for the Veterans Memorial Park Association. The Veterans Memorial Park Association began, because two Veterans were sitting down talking over coffee, about how nice it would be to have a Park dedicated to the living Veterans. A place where there weren’t tombstones and grim reminders of those that have passed ahead of us. To be honored in life, and not after death.
So, on Oct. 16, 2009 each of those two Veterans decided that one would bring in three women and the other would bring three men to a meeting, and see what we could do. By the end of that meeting we had four officers, and three directors and a host of advisors from the local community.
Our excitement grew very quickly as we had so much interest from the surrounding communities. This was not just a park for Caribou, this is going to be a park for all of Aroostook County Veterans. A place to sit and share memories, communicate and welcome each other. Our park will strive to make the Veterans feel that the community has not forgotten them. That this community has not forgotten the sacrifices that were made, and the losses that many suffered. Not all Veterans come home with a missing limb, many come home with deep emotional issues, and those are not seen with our eyes.
Our park’s intent is to foster fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational needs to the children and the citizens of Aroostook County. Veterans are some of the most patriotic of people and we are aiming to show that pride through our park. To show the County, the state and in some cases the nation just who we are. To display that proudly in this park.
We filed and became a 501C 3 for non-profit status and got that in November 2009. With that we were able to start fundraising and get the help from the community to help us achieve our goals. We went to the City Council and were able with their cooperation, to gain the piece of land that the Civil War soldier monument currently sits on. We will keep this monument intact, as this is such a treasured landmark to Caribou. We hope to enhance it with the ideas that have come from our group.
We are currently under way to start fundraising again for this year. We are in desperate need of your help. Our communities have always been so giving of their time and we know that time is a precious commodity. We are seeking individuals who would like to help in planning, fundraising, ideas, and helping with concepts in this great endeavor. We plan as a team and work well together.
Our general plan is a star laid in and around the current monument. We will be enhancing this with multiple flagpoles, and bricks to bring this idea to life. Each flag will represent a given branch of service. Each of the five services will be given a pole of its own and a few main poles for the American flag and the Maine state flag with a POW/MIA flag as well.
With the help of many we are at a place now to start some major fundraising. We have had many fundraisers up to this point but we are need so much more. We need your help! The Veterans Memorial Park Association would like to see our membership grow, and more help added to make our dreams a reality. We welcome the public, Veterans, children, youth groups and more to attend our meetings and see what we are about and how you can help.
No matter what your affiliation is to any other Veterans group, this group wears just one hat, and that is the hat of a Veteran! Those are the men and women who proudly served this great nation to keep our rights intact.
We have just one motto in our group and that is “we live with honor and unify those that serve.” By creating this park, we do just that. We hope that one day all Veterans groups will stand together on this hallowed ground as one.
If you are interested in learning more, we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. On Wednesday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at the Caribou VFW. We hope to have our next fundraiser under way and hope you will think about helping out those who served with pride.
Cuppy Johndro
Secretary VMPA
