The downtowns of two central Aroostook County communities shone a bit brighter during the holiday season with the official lighting of the Lights of Life tree recently on Main Street in Presque Isle and the community tree in Fort Fairfield. Brief but touching ceremonies in memory of Fort Fairfield businessman Fred “JR” McGillan Jr., who lost his battle with cancer in July, marked the visible launch of an annual program to support cancer care in The County.
The Lights of Life program is a collaborative effort of TAMC and Clukey’s Auto Supply of Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. McGillan Inc., of Fort Fairfield, joined in the partnership this year as the project is dedicated in memory of JR McGillan. Funds raised annually support treatment for patients of TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care, the only comprehensive cancer treatment center in northern Maine.
Donations to the 2014 Lights of Life campaign will go toward the purchase of a new linear accelerator, which provides radiation therapy to help shrink cancerous tumors. It is the only such piece of equipment in northern Maine, and TAMC is in need of replacing an aging unit currently onsite at the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital.
In Presque Isle, a 25-foot tree in front of Clukey’s Auto Supply was lit as part of the Star City’s annual Holiday Light Parade Dec. 6. A piece of earthmoving equipment owned by McGillan, Inc. and operated by McGillan’s 22-year-old son, Shane, was the lead entry in the parade.
As the decorated McGillan equipment reached the tree, Shane raised the bucket on the front until it reached its highest point, signaling the lights on the tree to turn on. Among those joining in the lighting ceremony were JR McGillan’s wife, Janet, and the couple’s two other children, 19-year-old daughter, Kellyn, and 11-year-old son, Jared. Warmer temperatures than in recent years, hovering near the freezing point, and a gently falling snow served as the perfect backdrop for the lighting event.
Much colder temperatures, nearing the zero mark (below zero with the wind chill factored in), did not cool the warm spirit the following evening when the memory of McGillan was celebrated in his hometown of Fort Fairfield at the annual tree lighting ceremony hosted by the town, the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Fairfield Housing Authority in the community gazebo on Main Street.
In the moments before the tree was illuminated, Dr. Jay Reynolds, TAMC chief medical officer and chief clinical officer, spoke on behalf of the Lights of Life program about his good friend.
“It is on cold nights like this that many of us who live in this community would call upon our friend JR to help us get the water running or heat turned on. When we called on him, we could always count on him to come out. He would come out in temperatures like this, at hours later than this, never complain, and make things right,” said Reynolds. “Well, tonight, JR, you can rest knowing that your community has come out for you.”
Following the touching comments, the community tree was officially lit. In honor of McGillan, additional red lights — to match the signature color of the prominent Fort Fairfield contractor’s business — were added on and around the gazebo in which the tree sits.
2014 marks the seventh year the Lights of Life event raises awareness and support for area cancer services. It also marks the second year TAMC partners with Clukey’s Auto Supply, bringing the project beyond Presque Isle to Caribou and Houlton. With the addition this year of McGillan, Inc., the Fort Fairfield community is also engaged.
Through Lights of Life, individuals can purchase lights to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer or honor survivors, family and friends of survivors, caregivers and others. Lights may be purchased anytime now through Dec. 31 in person at a Clukey’s Auto Supply location, at McGillan’s in Fort Fairfield, or online at www.tamc.org. The names of those being honored or remembered will be displayed at Clukey’s Auto Supply locations, at Acadia Medical Supply in Fort Fairfield and on the TAMC website.
Lights are being sold for: white, $10; red, $25; yellow, $50; green, $75; blue, $100; and orange, $150. Donations will benefit TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care.
For more information or to purchase a light, visit www.tamc.org or contact TAMC Communications and Development office at 768-4858.
