By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU, Maine — The Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corporation conducted its annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 27 at the cemetery in Caribou, marking the tenth year of operation for the facility, which was dedicated on June 1, 2003. To honor the occasion, Lt. Col. Peter Ogden, U.S. Army Retired, director of the Bureau of Veterans’ Services, attended a gathering of members of NMVCC’s directors committee to present those who have been active members of the committee for 10 years or more with letters from Governor Paul LePage commending them for their work and dedication to the cemetery.
“Every day is Memorial Day in our cemeteries,” Ogden commented before handing out the commendation letters. “It’s the community and members of the committee that make this possible.”
Ogden pointed out that the Caribou facility is one of very few veterans cemeteries in the nation who hold a POW/MIA service each year.
“That’s important because the community comes out for these things,” Ogden said.
Also present at the meeting was Joshua M. de Leon, director of Veterans Cemetery Grant Service, who also addressed the committee, congratulating them on their 10 years of operation and dedication to veterans.
De Leon had another purpose for visiting the cemetery. He was also there to present NMVCC with a federal grant check for $274,000 to build a new committal shelter, and he was a keynote speaker at the Memorial Day service.
“It is appropriate that we are breaking ground to expand the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day,” de Leon said during his speech, “because state veterans cemeteries are playing an increasingly important role in the way we honor those who have served the nation in uniform as well as those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Presque Isle-based contractor A&L Construction began work on the new shelter earlier this week. The structure’s roof will run from north to south instead of the east to west direction of the current shelter. The new shelter will feature three seven-foot walls and four large pillars to hold up the steep pitched roof. The open end of the shelter will be on south side, facing the viewing stand.
“The new shelter will be more user-friendly,” said NMVCC Chairman Harry Hafford.
Hafford advised construction is expected to be complete by mid-August, Labor Day at the latest.
“It will definitely be ready for our next ceremony, which is POW/MIA Day,” Hafford said.
POW/MIA Day is Friday, Sept. 20, and honors servicemen who have been taken prisoner of war or are missing in action.
