HOULTON, Maine — Not even a powerful rainstorm could dampen the spirits of those gathered at Monument Park Sunday afternoon to honor those military personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.
Originally designed as a ceremony to remember prisoners of war and those missing in action, the service has been expanded in recent years to also honor those killed in action, according to Paul Graham, president of the United Veterans Motorcycle Club in Houlton.
“We always had a day to honor the POWs and those MIA, but because we have had so many local boys killed in action we added KIA to our ceremony,” Graham said. “We never change the day, it’s always the second Sunday in September. It just happened to fall this year on the same day as 9-11. That makes it a little extra special this year.”
The Club gathered at the Houlton Irving Big Stop and paraded through town on motorcycles, carrying flags honoring all branches of the military.
Bob Wright read the “Table of One” decree, also known as the “Missing Man Table” to honor POWs and those MIA. The contents of the table each hold a specific meaning, such as a single red rose to represent the blood many have shed in sacrifice and a plate with a single slice of lemon to represent the bitter fate of those missing and a sprinkle of salt to represent the tears shed by families.
Mike Tidd read the POW/MIA Allegiance, while Rick Miller read the poem “I’m Free.”
The names of all the veterans killed in action were read off, and a bell was tolled after each name. Harry McGuire III (KIA 1967 Vietnam), Weston Langley (KIA 1967 Vietnam); Steve Porter (KIA 1969 Vietnam); Dustin Harris (KIA 2006 Iraq); Jonathan Lowery (2007 KIA Iraq); Blair Emery (2007 KIA Iraq); Joel House (2007 KIA Iraq); James Zimmerman (2010 KIA Afghanistan); and Aaron Henderson (2012 KIA Afghanistan).
Roses were presented to Gold Star Mothers Josephine McGuire and Jane Zimmerman, who lost children in the line of duty. A group of 13 chairs for 13 POWs from Maine were set up in a corner of the park, near the POW flagpole before a new flag was raised in their honor.
