Adams honored
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
OLDEST VETERAN HONORED — Paul Dudley, at left, presents Clarence Kempton Adams with a replica of a Civil War Cavalry sword, in recognition of Adams being Easton’s oldest veteran. Adams served four years in the service during WWII.
By Kathy McCarty
EASTON — Clarence Kempton Adams was recognized in his hometown recently for being its oldest living veteran.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TOWN RECOGNITION 
— Clarence Kempton Adams was honored Jan. 26 during a ceremony at the Easton Town Office for being the community’s oldest veteran. Pictured from left are: Adams, holding a letter opener replica of the sword he was awarded, and Town Manager Jim Gardner.
Adams was the guest of honor for a ceremony at the Town Office Jan. 26, attended by friends and town officials. Town Manager Jim Gardner said this was the first time such an award was being presented north of Bangor.
“Paul Dudley, our local historian who does re-enactments — has been doing Civil War and living history events and goes to various towns throughout the year. It was after one of his trips he came back with the idea,” said Gardner.
Dudley said it was a visit to Unity last summer where he got the idea.
“A group there presented a sword to the oldest vet in town. I came back and presented the idea to the Town Council. We have a Boston Cane in the case for the oldest citizen but there was nothing honoring the oldest veteran in town,” said Dudley.
In an effort to find a sword to fit the occasion, Dudley came up with the idea of reproducing a Civil War Cavalry sword.
“Haines Manufacturing was able to do the work. Kempton will be presented with the sword, which will then be placed in the case here at the Town Office for safe keeping. He’ll be given a letter opener replica and plaque,” said Dudley.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
EASTON’S OLDEST VETERAN, 
Kempton Adams, is pictured with grandson Mathiew Marquis, at left, and son Tyler Mahany, at right.
Adams also received a framed certificate to mark the occasion.
Born Aug. 21, 1917, Adams — best known to friends and family by his middle name, Kempton — enlisted in the Army on Jan. 28, 1942, serving nearly four years in the military before being honorably discharged on Oct. 12, 1945. During WW II, he served in Normandy, France. While in the service, he earned the Distinguished Unit Badge and EAME Ribbon.
Adams said at first he “wasn’t very happy” with the whole idea.
“I’d rather watch than be in the middle of the attention. But now I appreciate it,” said Adams, noting he’s not the only veteran in his family. “My uncle was wounded in WW I.”
Father of four stepchildren, Adams and his wife, Mona, who is now in a nursing home, are proud to call Easton home.
“I spent 30 years as a potato farmer after leaving the military. Then I spent five or six years putting in ventilation systems for potato storage,” said Adams. “After that, I ran the housing project for Easton for a bit.”
Gardner said he was proud, as a fellow vet, to be able to make the presentation to Adams.
“This proves our community is not all about budgets. It’s about times like these — the special moments that define a community,” said Gardner.
