CARIBOU, Maine – Folks gathered in Caribou Saturday to ensure those who have served their country were remembered on Veterans Day.
A cold wind kept the ceremony short but did not prevent people from honoring veterans’ sacrifices and bravery during the annual ceremony at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery.
The cemetery was dedicated in 2003 after Caribou residents John and Joyce Noble donated 33.4 acres of land on Lombard Road. It is now the largest veterans cemetery north of Bangor, with capacity for 10,000 burials and 1,500 cremations.
This year, the cemetery committee has been busy purchasing new flowers, flags and granite benches for their veterans monuments and are currently seeking new committee members, said Chairperson Roy Woods.
Members of the Loring Job Corps Honor Guard, Caribou Fire & Ambulance and Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops 184 raised flags and saluted veterans at the start of the ceremony.
Trisha House, Jordyn Madore and Barbara Hayslett, representatives for Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Angus King and Rep. Jared Golden, respectively, offered words of praise for veterans and reminded folks of the history of Veterans Day, which began in 1918 as Armistace Day after the end of World War I.
Roger Felix, commander of VFW Post 9389, called upon the younger generations to continue serving their country as past generations have done.
“After World War I, 11 percent of our nation was serving their country. Today, only 1 percent serve,” Felix said.
The ceremony also honored Roland Anderson, a World War II veteran who passed away Sunday, Nov. 5. Anderson had just turned 100 years old on October 6 and was living at Maine Veterans Home in Caribou.
Felix read a special citation honorring Anderson’s service from the national VFW headquarters. Anderson’s brother, Gerald Anderson of Woodland, and son, Donnie Anderson of New Sweden, placed a memorial wreath under the American flag along with Woods.
Gerald Anderson and Donnie Anderson are veterans of the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively. Gerald served in the Army while Donnie served in the Marines.
“It means the world to us [to honor my dad],” Donnie Anderson said. “He was my dad and my hero.”
