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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet Though the Avenue of Flags at the Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou remains as majestic as it’s always been, the flags flying in memory of deceased veterans have changed after the 30 cotton 5-foot by 9-foot flags became so heavy when rain-soaked that they bent three flagpoles, as members of the Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery Corporation found out earlier this spring. Harry Hafford, left, is spreading the word about the new flags flying above the avenue — 5-foot by 8-foot polyester flags that won’t damage the poles even in the worst weather Aroostook County offers up. |
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Last summer, members of the Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery Corporation were shocked to discover that three of the flag poles lining the iconic Avenue of Flags had been damaged due to a combination of the make and size of flags being flown and storms.
Old Glory flown above Avenue of Flags in memory of fallen veterans has traditionally been casket-sized cotton flags (30 of them in total) and each one flown in memory of a deceased veteran.
“We thought using casket-sized flags would be a good fit,” explained NMVCC chairman Harry Hafford, and corporation members were assured that the flag poles could handle the weight of rain-soaked cotton flags flying in gusty winds.
“… we ran into some bumps in the road,” he added.
Under windy, precipitous circumstances, three poles bent under the weight of the flags. All of the 5-foot by 9-foot cotton flags were replaced by 5-foot by 8-foot polyester flags to prevent further damage, and Hafford anticipates the three new flag poles will be installed sometime next month.
Four individuals have already purchased a polyester flag to fly in memory of a fallen veteran and Hafford is hoping that 26 more will be purchased to honor the fallen.
Each new polyester flag costs about $40 plus shipping, which meant a significant bill for the cemetery committee to foot.
Hafford emphasized that while the flags themselves have changed, their significance above the Avenue of Flags has not.
“The big thing is we’re just changing the size of the flags from 5-foot by 9-foot cotton to 5-foot by 8-foot polyester — we’re not changing the policy of flying flags in honor of deceased veterans,” he explained, adding that donated flags are flown to honor the veteran until either the color fades or until the flag is no longer fit. At that time, the flag is properly disposed of.
Be it polyester or cotton, 5×9 or 5×8 — committee members have consistently received positive input regarding the Avenue of Flags.
“It’s been absolutely a tremendous response of how much people appreciate [the Avenue of Flags],” Hafford said.
Anyone wishing to donate to the NMVCC and or purchase a flag in honor of a fallen veteran can contact Hafford at 435-6024
