HOULTON, Maine — Motorists traveling along North Street in Houlton may have noticed a series of banners that popped up Thursday, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The banners feature the names and images of local servicemen who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces.
Honoring local soldiers has been a mission for organizer Chris Robinson, who also serves on the town council. For the past few years, Robinson, along with several other locals, has organized the Wilderness Walk for Warriors — a 10-day, 120-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail to the top of Mt. Katahdin.
“The thought behind this (banner) project was spawned from seeing local area high schools putting pictures of their graduates up on utility poles during the COVID crisis,” Robinson explained. “I thought it might be a good idea to instead take local area service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice and display them on a banner as well.”
Since Houlton is officially designated as a “military friendly community,” Robinson also felt it would be appropriate to expand the scope to include individuals who are from the surrounding area.
The veterans featured include three from Lee and one each from Smyrna, Hodgdon, Patten and Presque Isle, along with Houlton.
“The Wilderness Walk for Warriors is also supported by local and state law enforcement and in turn we support them,” he added. “So, I included Det. Glenn Strange from Hodgdon (Maine State Police ).”
The banners were ordered and designed by Blaine Jackett of JEI Sports in Houlton. It is the intent to display them from Memorial Day to Veterans Day each year.
