CARIBOU, Maine — The Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope, named after two local Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, is the only homeless veterans’ shelter of its kind in Maine. The Farm of Hope, which opened to the public Saturday, not only takes in veterans suffering from addiction or mental health issues such as PTSD, but gives them an opportunity to work on a nearby farm to earn some of their own income. As United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau put it, the farm will give them a renewed sense of purpose.
Well over 100 people attended the shelter’s grand opening ceremony on April 15, held on the Washburn Road, where Phil’s Florist (lost to a fire in 2014) once stood.
Roger Felix, commander of the Lister Knowlton VFW, Post 9389, led the ceremony and introduced five speakers. The Loring Honor Guard posted the colors and Meghan Schupbach sang the national anthem before Reverend David Cote, who served as a lieutenent colonel in the U.S. Air Force, gave the invocation.
In addition to remarks from Phil Bosse and Barbara Hayslett, respectively on behalf of U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the event featured speeches from Congressman Bruce Poliquin, Cary Medical Center CEO Kris Doody, and UVM President DeVeau.
United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau and Rep. Bruce Poliquin, Maine’s 2nd District, lay a wreath in honor of Edward C. Dahlgren and Donald S. Skidgel, two local Congressional Medal of Honor recipients who respectively served in World War II and Vietnam. (Christopher Bouchard)
“Two years ago a fellow veteran found himself homeless,” DeVeau said. “The options we found for him were very slow to respond. We found we needed a way to give him help, and it needed to happen quickly.
“United Veterans of Maine was born out of a problem of homeless veterans not being able to get access to basic necessities. They could not get access to homeless shelter for number of reasons. The shelter we have in Presque Isle does a great job, but the problem is that, because of the issues our vets face, many are not able to get into the shelter,” he said.
The UVM founder said the Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope will act as an addition to the Presque Isle shelter, taking in any veterans who are unable to receive their assistance.
While DeVeau is, in many ways, the man responsible for making the Caribou shelter a reality, he insists that none of it could have happened without the extraordinary efforts of organizations such as Loring Job Corps, Cary Medical Center, and WAGM-TV, as the local station recently hosted a telethon that brought in about $50,000 in donations.
“After some amazing help from incredibly dedicated folks and incredible community,” DeVeau said. “We’re at the point now of realizing our vision. The florist shop was destroyed by a fire, and now has risen from the ashes, bringing us to this point.”
“In 2016 there were seven veterans homeless,” DeVeau continued. “We’re looking to build three duplexes that will house six, so we’re already behind the eight ball, but we’re going to make it happen.”
Doody said the project, like Cary Medical’s VA Clinic, will become a model for the nation.
“I want to thank everyone involved in getting this building open, and want to particularly recognize Loring Job Corps and WAGM-TV for their incredible Project 16 Telethon,” said the Cary CEO. “Please remember that Cary Medical Center will be by your side every step of the way. Thank you, and God Bless our veterans and country.”
Rep. Poliquin spoke about the importance of veterans, and the tremendous sacrifice required to defend one’s country.
“I’m inspired by veterans,” Poliquin said. “Someone tell me how a young man or young woman can get in a humvee and drive down a dusty road in Mosul, with snipers on the roof and IEDs on the side of the road. Someone tell me how to do that. They fought for us, and let me tell you, it’s our turn to fight for them.”
