WASHBURN, Maine — The Washburn Area Veterans Memorial Park has a new addition following an unveiling ceremony over the weekend.
A six-foot-tall bronze battle cross is now in place at the park, honoring the 27 service members from Washburn, Wade and Perham who gave the ultimate sacrifice during wartime.
The monument was unveiled Aug. 17 as part of the Washburn August Festival. The annual event launched 44 years ago as a way to celebrate community spirit and welcome former residents and alumni back to town. Since the park’s creation six years ago, Boy Scout Troop 177, the Washburn Rotary Club and residents have dedicated new elements nearly every year during the festival.
“There’s something eerily symbolic and beautiful about these battle crosses,” said Larry Harrison, Air Force veteran, Scoutmaster and Rotary Club member. “Like all things military, this cross is rooted in tradition since the Civil War. Despite its being called a cross, it refers to no specific ideology.”
During the Civil War, the dead were removed from the field as quickly as possible to prevent disease, so a soldier’s rifle and helmet were left in his honor. Dog tags and boots joined the displays around the time of World War II, Harrison said.
Harrison believes Washburn’s sculpture, mounted on granite, is only the second in Aroostook County. A larger one is installed at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou, he said.
The monument is dedicated in memory of U.S. Air Force Ssgt. Willis E. Laskey, who served in the European Theater during World War II. He was honorably discharged but remained in reserve. He was later recalled to active service during the Korean War, according to Harrison.
Following another honorable discharge, he worked in finance in Washburn and Presque Isle, and served in a number of municipal and community positions including Rotary, the Presque Isle Lions Club, American Legion, school board and Lidstone United Methodist Church.
Laskey died last September at the age of 95.
During the ceremony, members of Troop 177 raised flags for the five military branches. Pastor Sue Brown offered prayers. As the sculpture was unveiled, Troop 177 members laid a wreath at the site.
Laskey’s daughter, Barb (Laskey) Hade of Washburn, cut the official ribbon to mark the monument’s dedication.
Kathleen Philbrook and Greg Page read the names of each of the 27 tri-town service members who lost their lives during wartime, as Kermit Fuller and Nelson Bouchard rang a bell for each name. Scout Paul Tardie played taps.
Members of the 20th Maine Company B Volunteer Infantry, a Civil War reenactment group from southern Maine, attended the festival and stood at attention during the ceremony.
The group were in Washburn’s Story Park with a setup similar to what would have been seen on the battlefield, members said.
While imparting notes of history, they humorously “arrested” some visitors (including a couple of errant photographers) who happened to wander into the camp without permission. The “criminals” were marched into the lieutenant’s tent to plead for favor, and happily were granted pardons.
“We try to make it fun,” one member said.
Also on Saturday, 47 new bricks were added to the park’s walkway, bringing the total number to 309. The bricks are engraved with the names of those who served in the armed forces.
Salmon Brook Historical Society members greeted visitors at the Wilder Homestead Museum and agricultural barn.
Near the barn, blacksmith Eugene Katsman of Woodland taught festival goers some tricks of the trade, including Ellie Blackstone of Mapleton, who helped fashion an iron hook. Peter Wilcox of West Chapman offered rope making demonstrations, using equipment once owned by Henry Drost of Wade.
The weekend also featured the annual festival parade, live music, food trucks, a quilt show, library events, the Dana Woodman Classic/Vintage Antique car show, games for kids and more.
A crowd turned out Friday evening for the annual Washburn Alumni Banquet, where members of all classes of Washburn High School gathered, according to the festival’s social media page.
Sunday afternoon saw a packed house for “The American Soldier,” a solo play honoring soldiers from the Civil War to the present by actor Douglas Taurel. It was the play’s first appearance in Maine.
