L&A Veterans Council Vice Chairman Charles Paul of Norway, left background, addresses a crowd Monday morning at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street in Lewiston next to the Androscoggin River. Paul, on behalf of his organization and himself, thanked the many hands involved in restoring the park to its glory after the devastating flood Dec. 23, 2023. Mark Mogensen/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — A small crowd of local residents and military veterans gathered Monday morning at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street to celebrate the work in restoring the property after floodwaters from the Androscoggin River caused extensive damage during a Dec. 23, 2023 storm.

L&Auburn Veterans Council Vice Chairman Charles Paul of Norway, a Vietnam veteran, emceed the gathering and named the many people, groups and organizations who played a part in the roughly nine-month effort to restore the park next to the river.

“Any day is a good day to thank a veteran, but today we thank not a veteran, but a community,” he said. “We thank the communities of Lewiston and Auburn and others around the community for their help in restoring the Veterans Memorial Park.”

Paul said Lewiston Public Works, backed by the City Council, is part of the backbone for efforts as is the Auburn City Council. The American Rental Association Foundation and Turo Foundation also had a hand. Collette Monuments Inc. of Lewiston recovered and restored many damaged benches and monuments.

There are so many who have had a hand in getting the work done, Paul said.

After setting out three years ago to put a Vietnam memorial at the park, the devastation due to the 2023 storm and flooding became personal, so the efforts mean a great deal to him, he said.

“Many of us were not prepared for the devastation that was heaped upon us,” he said. “I, for one, was brought to tears when I went to the Veterans Memorial Park and saw what nature had unleashed on us. Now, many of the benches are close to their old locations and the Vietnam memorial is in a new location. And we see progress.”

Paul, who served more than two years in Vietnam as a radio operator, set out to raise money in 2021.

Standing along Main Street in full uniform asking for donations, he was able to raise over $6,000 toward the memorial which stands 48 inches tall, 22 inches wide and 12 inches thick. The tapered top to the monument reads, “For those who have served and fought for it, freedom has a taste that the protected will never know.”

While restoration efforts are ongoing for the entire park, and grants and fundraising continue, organizers hope to complete restoration projects by Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

“I pledge, along with Lewiston-Auburn Veterans Council, we will make the park home again. The cities will help in reaching that goal. Our civic leaders and our industrial complex that we have in this community will help also … in honor of our most important asset, our veterans.”