Trail named after local hero
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lacroix
TRAIL NAMED FOR SOLDIER — Gov. Paul LePage, in his state office, speaks to the family of fallen Marine Dustin J. Libby, prior to signing a bill to name a trail on Haystack Mountain, located in Libby’s hometown of Castle Hill, after the soldier.
Pictured from left are: Geni Libby, Dustin’s mother; Heather Libby, Dustin’s sister-in-law (Chris’ wife); Heather’s son, Colby Woolard; and Chris Libby, Dustin’s brother.
AUGUSTA — A Castle Hill native who lost his life during combat operations in Iraq will be remembered by all who visit Haystack Mountain in the future, following Gov. Paul LePage’s signing of a measure April 12 to name a public hiking trail in honor of Corporal Dustin J. Libby, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.
The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Alexander Willette (R-Mapleton), directs the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, to designate a summit trail on Haystack Mountain in Castle Hill the Dustin J. Libby Trail. The House and Senate passed the bill late last month.
“I’m grateful to the Legislature for passing the bill in overwhelming fashion and to the governor for signing it so quickly,” said Willette. “It is difficult when we lose one of our own, but now Cpl. Libby will live on in the hearts of those hikers going to the top of Haystack Mountain.”
Marine Cpl. Libby, of Castle Hill, was 22 when he fell in action while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned as a squad leader to 2nd Battalion, 4th Maine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Born in Presque Isle, Libby was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq at the time of his death. He had previously served in the country in 2004. Between his two Iraq tours, Libby was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Willette’s bill, LD 92, was co-sponsored by seven other Republican legislators from Aroostook County. They are: Sen. Roger Sherman, of Houlton; Rep. Bernard Ayotte, of Caswell; Rep. Tyler Clark, of Easton; Rep. Peter Edgecomb, of Caribou; Rep. Joyce Fitzpatrick, of Houlton; Rep. Ricky Long, of Sherman; and Rep. Michael Willette, of Presque Isle.
Making the trip to take part in the ceremony honoring Libby were several of his family members, including: his mother, Geni Libby; his brother, Chris Libby; Chris’s wife, Heather Libby; and Colby Woolard, Heather’s son and Chris’s stepson.
Haystack Mountain, a popular Castle Hill landmark, is about 10 miles west of Presque Isle. The elevation is 1,142 feet. Hikers reach the summit after a moderate climb of about one-third of a mile.
