CARIBOU, Maine — The United States Department of Defense has recognized Cary Medical Center in Caribou as a Commemorative Partner in a national recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. In a formal document signed by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the hospital was recognized for its willingness to assist and support a grateful nation in thanking and honoring our Vietnam War Veterans, their families, and those who served with or in support of the Armed Forces.
Cary Medical Center applied for the recognition earlier this year and is now planning events to honor Vietnam veterans in Aroostook County over the next year. Kris Doody, RN, MSB, FACHE, and chief executive officer at the hospital said that it will be an honor and privilege to join organizations all across the country who will honor those who served in Vietnam.
“We are truly honored to be recognized by our national government as a Commemorative Partner in recognizing the great personal sacrifice of nearly 3 million service men and women who answered our nation’s call to defend our ideals that we cherish as Americans,” said Doody who has led the hospital’s efforts to secure health care services for veterans close to home through Project ARCH. “We honor all our veterans of every war and we are pleased to be a part of this well earned recognition of those who served in Vietnam.”
Doody has a deep and personal connection to veterans. Her late brother Wilbur, served several tours of duty in Vietnam and her father, the late Lee Doody led the Maine Army National Guard in Caribou, and retired as a Colonel, U.S. Army, and the longest serving commander of the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion.
The hospital also received the “Official Presidential Proclamation.” In the document, President Barack Obama proclaims May 28th, 2012 through November 11th, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. His statement reads in part, “I call upon federal, state, and local officials to honor our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
Bill Flagg, Cary’s director of community relations and development who will be coordinating the hospital’s activities surrounding the anniversary, said that he will be working with veterans organizations to establish special events that will occur in 2015.
“As an official Commemorative Partner we are required to sponsor two specific events that will recognize the 50th anniversary of the War in Vietnam,” he said. “We are looking forward to some very moving tributes and hope to engage as many veterans as possible in these ceremonies.”
Flagg added that he will be contacting area veterans organizations to invite their participation and ideas throughout 2015 and beyond.
“More than 58,000 patriots were killed during the Vietnam War,” said Flagg whose father served as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW II. “Thousands of others came home wounded, and suffering from PTSD. Still others suffered unspeakably as prisoners of war and 1,600 of our service members are still among the missing. That sacrifice must be recognized and I am very pleased that Cary Medical Center will have the opportunity to be a partner in this effort.”
The Vietnam War commemoration has five key objectives:
• To thank and honor Veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these Veterans.
• To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and no-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
• To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by people of the United States during the Vietnam War.
• To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
• To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.
Additional information can be found about the 50th anniversary commemoration at the events official website www.vietnamwar50th.com.