NORWAY — The contributions of area residents and legislators to replace three flags stolen from the Veterans Memorial Park last year were recognized Wednesday evening in a ceremony.
Colby Davis of Canton, a World War II Air Force veteran and former prisoner of war, accepted thanks from Stone-Smart American Legion Post 82 for his financial contribution. He said after the ceremony that his goal is to restore patriotism in the country. He hoped his action would provide others with incentive to be more patriotic, he said.
The B-24 waist gunner’s plane was shot down in Czechoslovakia in 1944 during his 41st mission and he was captured by the Germans.
“Hopefully this won’t happen again,” he said of the theft of the U.S., Maine and Prisoner of War flags.
Davis was one of half a dozen people to be recognized at the flag-raising ceremony at the park at Main and Paris streets. The others included Harlan and Elaine Johnson, Rawn Phinney, Alfred Snow and state Rep. Tom Winsor of Norway. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe were represented by Chiara Ferrante Diane Jackson, respectively.
The U.S., state of Maine and Prisoner of Wat flags were stolen during the night of Dec. 7, 2010, while at half-staff in observance of Pearl Harbor Day. In January, the Post voted to replace two of them and add a security system.
More than $400 in private donations paid for the security system. The new flags were provided by the offices of Collins, Snowe and Winsor.
No one has been charged with the thefts.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
- Randy Henley, standing at the podium, read a patriotic poem at the flag-raising ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Norway on Wednesday evening. Stone-Smart American Legion Post of Norway recognized those who contributed to getting new flags and a security system for the park at Main and Paris streets.
- Sgt. Alan Hill , right foreground, an active duty member of the 251st Engineer Company of the Maine National Guard based in Norway, shakes the hand of Colby Davis, a World War II Air Force veteran and former prisoner of war. The two attended a flag-raising ceremony Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park in Norway. Davis contributed money for new flags and a security system at the park.
- Stone-Smart American Legion Post Commander Ron Snow, far right, commended contributors for the new flags and security system at Veterans Memorial Park in Norway on Wednesday night. From left are World War II veteran Colby Davis, Elaine and Harlen Johnson, state Rep. Tom Winsor, and Chiara Ferrante and Diane Jackson, who represented U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, respectively.
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