This regards the passing of Harold Alfond.

I came to Maine in 1954 as the wife of an American GI. My English was poor. I started to work in the Norrwock Shoe Co. in North Jay, which was owned by Mr. Alfond.

I did not know much, but was willing to learn. I was blessed by the Lord to be a topstitcher. What impressed me most was the bonus gift of money we received three times a year, of $10, each year we worked for the company.

My first paycheck of $25 made me speechless, for when I worked in Berlin, Germany, my monthly income was $5 in American money. I remember with my first paycheck I bought myself an old treadle sewing machine, for I love to sew and made most of my own clothes then. I still think fondly on the first place I worked here, and I still remember the extra bonus we received.

One Christmas I used the money to purchase a flying angel; I still have this angel, and used to hang it from the ceiling at Christmas time. The bonus was very special to me, for I am a German and as I understand it, Mr. Alfond was a Jew, and my people did so much harm to the Jewish people.

I hope this will comfort his family, too.

Heidi Weber, Dryden