New memorial stone unveiled at Veterans Park

- Jose Leiva/Sun Journal
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Jose Leiva/Sun Journal Bethel Shields of Auburn a Gold Star Mother attends Veterans Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Park in Lewiston Wednesday. Thomas and Bethel Shield lost their son James "Jeb" Shields a lieutenant in the Navy in an airplane crash of the coast of San Diego, California in March of 1991.

- Jose Leiva/Sun Journal
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LEWISTON — Several hundred people cheered past and present veterans at a ceremony to dedicate the 18th memorial stone at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Veterans Day event capped a full day of activities in the Twin Cities, and good weather brought out people of all ages.

Many veterans wore caps and jackets emblazoned with names, including USS Yellowstone, USS Roanoke, USS Canberra, USS Forrestal and USS Brownson, as well as sites such as the former Sampson Air Force Base in New York and organizations including the Korean War Veterans Association of Augusta. There were older men with caps declaring their World War II service, and others who served in Korea and Vietnam. And there were young men and women in the armed services uniforms of today.

“Soldiers are citizens who chose to wear the uniform of service and sacrifice,“ Auburn Mayor John Jenkins told the crowd. They had the same everyday obligations and concerns as all people, he said, but “they chose to do that bit more.”

He added, “Thank you for standing here today for those who stood for us.”

Paul Bernard, chairman of the L&A Veterans Council, said the engraved names of L-A area servicemen and women now totals 3,887 on the circle of 18 large stones.

Disabled American Veterans State Commander Terry Leavitt of Millinocket and Past Commander Jerry DeWitt unveiled the newest stone which bears the DAV logo and 216 names.

The stone was covered with brown wrapping paper, and Bernard explained that it was necessary because a custom-made cover placed over it on Tuesday was apparently stolen during the night.

Bernard said he searched the riverbank near the park around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday as soon as he noticed it was missing The green vinyl cover has large lettering spelling “L&A Veterans Council.”

Bernard introduced Joseph and Louise Masse, who have volunteered to maintain the database of names on the stones.

Mayor Jenkins and past L&A Veterans Council Chairman Bert Dutil unveiled a granite memorial bench in honor of Robert E. Buchanan, a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps as a navigator in the 500th Bomb Squadron known as the Rough Riders. Buchanan served in the Southwest Pacific Theater. After the war, he continued his military service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1968 following 26 years of service.

Bernard said anyone wishing to have a veteran’s name placed on a future stone can request an application from him by calling 225-3285.

- Jose Leiva/sun Journal