Dear Sun Spots: To the reader who is seeking a church in which to be married even though she and her husband-to-be do not believe in one religion: The First Universalist Church at Elm and Pleasant streets in Auburn welcomes people of different faith backgrounds. Unitarian Universalism believes in finding truth in all religious traditions. Some members are atheists or agnostics. The building itself is a beautiful 1876 church on the National Register of Historic Places. Contact Rev. Jodi Hayashida at 783-0461. – Eric Marenghi, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: The Lance Cpl. Scott Paul Memorial Park of Strong will hold a benefit lawn sale June 28 and 29 at the Legion Field in Strong starting at 8 a.m.

Scott Paul was a 22-year-old local killed in a helicopter crash over the Canary Islands shortly after the end of Desert Storm. A group of volunteers joined together to build a park in his memory through donations and fund-raisers. We now need help to maintain and improve this park. Any items such as good clothing and others could be picked up or delivered. Anyone wanting to donate can do so by calling Mary White at (207) 684-2166; Sue Ellsworth (207) 684-4520; Deb Chandler 684-4584 or June Allen 684-3231. – Sue Ellsworth, Strong.

To No Name of Lewiston (Sun Spots column Oct. 9) who sought information on the Gettysburg tablet at the Auburn Public Library:

You may be interested in noting that the Auburn Public Library will feature local Civil War expert Charles Plummer in the persona of Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain discussing Maine’s role at the Battle of Gettysburg at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26. The highlight of the evening will be the reintroduction of the city of Auburn’s Lincoln Memorial Tablet, which hung in the library from 1908 to the 1970s and will be displayed June 26.

The tablet is described as a “highly polished, dark marble slab 42-by-38. Upon the slab is a bronze tablet 32-by-28 containing in large raised letters the whole of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. At the top of the tablet are the badges of the seven army corps which took part in the battle, interwoven with a garland of wildflowers to be found at Gettysburg… The tablet is fastened to the wall with bolts having much enlarged G.A.R. buttons for heads.” The tablet was presented to the city in 1908.

Other reports of the time noted that on Friday, Feb. 28, 1908, the city of Auburn received the gift of a Lincoln Memorial Tablet from Alfred King, of Arlington, N.J., a former member of Company K of the 17th Civil War Regiment of the Maine Volunteer Infantry. It was presented by the Rev. J.T. Crosby and accepted by Auburn Public Library Board of Trustees member H.W. Oakes.

The Lincoln Memorial Tablet hung in the library’s reference area until 1978, when the library renovated its building. After over 25 years in storage, it will be reintroduced to the public. When the Auburn Public Library completes its current renovation and expansion, the tablet will be rehung and prominently displayed to once again serve. Renovations are expected to be completed in 2005.

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