Mon, 07/04/2022 - 6:00am

Sarah Thompson

David Sulin, of the American Legion, emceed this year’s tile dedication at Midcoast Area Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Bay Winds North Ensemble. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Flags marked the tiles of new inductees. Families were allowed to retrieve the flags as soon as the closing prayer was complete. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Sharon Heine, Chaplain of Rockland’s Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post 1, leads an opening prayer. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Marlene Hall feels the music. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

An emerging tradition at the ceremony is for Bay Wind North Ensemble to play the melody for each military branch. When the melody begins, the veterans of that branch stand in recognition. No one expected this gentleman to stand up. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

David Sulin, of the American Legion, emceed this year’s tile dedication at Midcoast Area Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Bay Winds North Ensemble. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Flags marked the tiles of new inductees. Families were allowed to retrieve the flags as soon as the closing prayer was complete. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Sharon Heine, Chaplain of Rockland’s Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post 1, leads an opening prayer. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Marlene Hall feels the music. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

ROCKLAND — Twenty four new veteran tiles were celebrated yesterday at the Midcoast Area Veterans Memorial’s wall of recognition, in Rockland.

Dave Sulin, of the American Legion, read each name during a dedication ceremony, Sunday afternoon, July 3, 2022, a day within a weekend dedicated to the 246th anniversary of the nation’s independence.

“This is a fitting day to honor the individuals whose plaques we dedicate today in recognition of their service to our country,” he said.

In preparation for the tiles, Sulin and the Memorial committee had the honor of working with some of the newly recognized Veterans, as well as the relatives of others.

“These stories are heart wrenching at times,” said Sulin, who provided brief points of interest regarding some of this year’s Veterans.

The family of the Kirk brothers, of Rockland, only had two little snapshots left. One of the snapshots included a Kirk brother with his sister, who is now over 101 years old. The sister couldn’t get to the ceremony, but it was her desire that her brothers be honored.

Two members of the Kearly Family were on the same U.S. Navy ship 33 years apart. A battlewagon, the Missouri.

One person traveled all the way from Arizona in order to see his tile dedicated.

A Rockland native was killed in action in the Pacific Ocean during World War Two.

Three friends wanted to be on the tile wall together. When Sulin began listing names, he began with theirs.

Neither Wayne E. Cunningham, nor his family had a picture of him in uniform. He still had the uniform, but it no longer fit. So what did he do?

“Wayne took it upon himself to lose 20 pounds in three weeks so that he could get into that uniform,” said Sulin. “We have an outstanding picture of him in uniform today.”

And finally, Bradley J. Dodge, United States Navy.

Dodge’s name wasn’t read aloud during a previous dedication ceremony due to some unknown mix-up.

“Today, we’re honoring him,” said Sulin.

David Franclemont, Chaplain for the American Legion District 6 of the state of Maine, recognized all service members and their families in his closing prayer.

“Let them have comfort and knowledge that they are not forgotten,” he said.

NEW TILES FOR THE MIDCOAST AREA VETERANS MEMORIAL 2022

ROBERT L MATTOON UNITED STATES ARMY
GERALD MONROE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WAYNE KEIDERLING UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

CLYDE DRINKWATER UNITED STATES NAVY

WAYNE E. TIBBETTS MAINE NATIONAL GUARD / UNITES STATES ARMY RESERVE / UNITED STATES COAST GUARDS RESERVE

FRANK P. ADAMS UNITED STATES ARMY
JOHN A. BLACK UNITED STATES NAVY
WAYNE E. CUNNINGHAM UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
STEVEN J. HODGKINS UNITED STATES NAVY
DEANE ESANCY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
STEVE LANDERS UNITED STATES NAVY

JAMES ALBION KIRK and RICHARD PACKARD KIRK UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

HAROLD D. CUMMINGS UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
GEORGE E. McLEOD UNITED STATES ARMY
ERNEST H. DUGAN UNITED STATES NAVY
EARL D. WITHEE UNITED STATES ARMY
E. JAMES THOMPSON UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
EDGAR C. MADDOCKS UNITED STATES ARMY

JAMES A. DOWLING UNITED STATES NAVY

BENEDICT J. DOWLING, JR. UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS
HARTWELL F. DOWLING UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

KENNETH W. KEARLY, SR. UNITED STATES NAVY
KENNETH W. KEARLY, JR. UNITED STATES NAVY

POSSIBLY NOT RECOGNIZED BY NAME AT ORIGINAL DEDICATION:

BRADLEY J. DODGE UNITED STATES NAVY

Midcoast Maine Area Veterans Memorial

During last year’s ceremony, the committee promised that the fountain would be operating in time for this year’s event. The committee signed a contract earlier this year to have a permanent liner installed in the fountain. Last week the committee learned that the liner would not be installed in time for the July 3 event.

The American Legion will be holding a golf tournament fundraiser, September 10, to raise money for its programs.

The Memorial Wall Committee will hold a golf tournament fundraiser September 16, for maintenance of the memorial.

For more information, check out the Facebook page and website dedicated to Midcoast Maine Area Veterans Memorial.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com