PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The days leading up to Father’s Day on Sunday, June 17, have encouraged many people in Central Aroostook County to reflect on their favorite memories of their fathers and look ahead to forming new family traditions.
Jackie Lundeen of Mars Hill lost her father in 2000, but recalls how he took her and her siblings hunting and fishing and always had words of encouragement when they participated in school sports.
“He was a good dad and he was a favorite person of my own children,” Lundeen said, while shopping in Rite-Aid in Presque Isle on June 8. “I remember on Father’s Day the whole family would spend the day together.”
John Graves of Presque Isle enjoyed a cup of coffee at Tim Horton’s while remembering one of his most special Father’s Days.
“My second daughter was born on Father’s Day 43 years ago,” he said. “She lives in Florida now, but this afternoon I’m going to the airport in Bangor to pick her up. She’s coming to town for her son’s high school graduation.”
Graves said that although his daughter will not be in town for Father’s Day, the entire family, including his son and other two daughters, would use her visit to celebrate both the holiday and his grandson’s graduation.
He remembers his own father as someone who took him and his five siblings on camping and fishing trips, a tradition that he passed onto his children.
“We still enjoy going to the camp that we have at Lake Scopan near Haystack Mountain. It’s beautiful there,” Graves said.
Father’s Day also holds much fun for the younger generations in The County. On Saturday, June 9, Rhonda Chasse of Presque Isle brought her grandchildren Bria, 3, and Brody Bouchard, 1 1/2, both of Caribou, to the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library for the weekly storytime event. Though she’s only had a few Father’s Day under her belt, Bria was anxious to talk about her favorite things to do with her dad.
“We like to play outside and go to the park,” she said.
Chasse remembered that when she was a child her family would celebrate Father’s Day at their camp near Portage Lake.
“We don’t do a whole lot these days, but we enjoy just being together as a family,” Chasse said.
