VFW to construct veterans memorial in Fort Fairfield Governor designates $10,000 in contingency funds for project

    FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — With Memorial Day just past, a Fort Fairfield man — with the help of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6187 and Gov. Paul LePage — is doing his part to not only remember Aroostook County veterans but servicemen and women from throughout the state.
Plans are under way to construct a veterans memorial in Fort Fairfield on land donated by the VFW, located at 130 Presque Isle St. The memorial will include 10 flagpoles and seven granite stones — one for every war, for a total of six, and an additional stone representing a vow to never forget the veterans.
Just in front of the flagpoles and stones will be space dedicated to the laying of 2,100 brick pavers with veterans’ names. The memorial will also include four granite benches from where visitors will be able to view the flags, stones and bricks.
“My goal is to have it at least 80-90 percent complete by Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2014,” said John Holschuh, memorial chair. “By the end of June, I expect they’ll have the ground prepped and the flagpoles will be up.”
There is currently a 20-foot by 20-foot memorial at the VFW Post home that was built in the early ’80s.
“Two years ago I joined the VFW up here, and on Nov. 11, 2012 we were doing a Veterans Day ceremony and my foot went through one of the steps of the old veterans memorial. That’s when it clicked in my head and I said, ‘No, we can’t have this,’” said Holschuh, noting that the existing memorial is also too close to the road. “I’ve moved the new one to the back of the VFW, and it will be 80-foot by 80-foot. It will be about 150 feet behind the old one, so it’s quieter and people can actually sit and reflect.”
LePage recently designated $10,000 from his contingency funds to support the construction.
“The sacrifices of Maine’s veterans mean so much to my family,” said LePage in a press release. “To Ann and me, there is no greater satisfaction than honoring our military heroes. Our history demonstrates that Maine soldiers have always answered the call and bring a traditional Maine work ethic to the fight. I appreciate the dedication that has gone into the building of this memorial, ensuring that our veterans will never be forgotten.”
Holschuh estimates the memorial will cost about $45,000.
“That’s just for materials,” he said, noting that much of the labor is going to be donated. “We raised most of what we needed in less than two years; the governor’s donation put us over our goal.
“We’re getting the whole community involved,” said Holschuh. “The Eagle Scouts are going to do a part, and the Loring Job Corps masonry students are on board. It’s going to be a community effort.”
A 20-year Army veteran, Holschuh said the memorial is intended to remember all Maine veterans.
“It’s not just for Aroostook County veterans,” he said. “It’s for all Maine veterans, as well as the Canadian veterans because they support us. When we have our Memorial Day, they come over and help us; when they have their Canadian Days, we support them. It’s a combination of the Canadian and U.S. memorials.
“Freedom is not free,” said Holschuh. “It is only with the sacrifices made by current and former servicemen and women that allow us to live the American way of life. These honored veterans and their sacrifices need to be remembered. They want to be able to point to a brick engraved with their name, or a relative’s name, and tell their children about the person and their sacrifices made.”
Each brick paver, which will feature three lines of engraved text, will cost $35. To place an order or for more information, call Holschuh at 472-6005.