LISBON FALLS — Charles Plummer, noted local historian, will give a talk  on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Lisbon Historical Society, in honor of Veterans Day and the local service people who fought in the Civil and Korean wars.

In his talk, Plummer will give an overview of the role that Lisbon volunteers played in these two wars.

President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers during the Civil War was promptly answered by many men of the town of Lisbon, Plummer notes. In 1861, no town in Maine furnished more soldiers in terms of proportion of its population than Lisbon, he said, and they ranged in age from 16 to 43. The soldiers were described as “an independent breed with a great deal of Yankee pride” and they also had a firm belief in hard work, which made them outstanding soldiers, he said.

Of the 32 regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and several regiments of light and heavy artillery that were raised in Maine, volunteers from Lisbon served in 19 of them.

Following the end of World War II, our nation experienced five years of peace, but that was suddenly interrupted with the onset of the Korean War, which the veterans of that war call “the forgotten war.” Once again, men from Lisbon answered the call of duty.

Among the first casualties of that war — and the first one from Maine — was Cpl. Harry R. Plummer of Lisbon. He was severely wounded in action on July 17, 1950, while serving as a tank commander and died the next day from his wounds.

Charles W. Plummer, a veteran of the Korean War and the brother of Cpl. Harry Plummer, also had an ancestor who was killed during the Civil War. 

The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the MTM Center on School Street. The Lisbon Historical Society’s meeting rooms are at the rear of the building, and parking is behind the building. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

FMI: [email protected], 207-353-8510.