ROCKLAND — You do not have to be deceased to be on this memorial wall.

“That’s one of the common questions that I get,” said Post Commander David Sulin, of American Legion 1, during a July 4, 2021 tile dedication ceremony. “We have folks here today that are proof of that. They’re still kick’n.”

During a rainy 245th birthday of the United States, families traveled from near and far to recognize the 20 area veterans whose memorial tiles have become the most recent additions to the Midcoast Area Veterans Memorial on land belonging to Winslow - Holbrook - Merritt Post 1 American Legion. 

In his introduction, emcee Sulin took the opportunity to explain the reason behind current fundraising efforts.

Tile space on the wall is becoming increasingly limited. Yet, the Legion and Veterans Memorial (which established the wall in the early 1990s at a different Rockland location) have no intention of refusing new additions. Nor will they adhere new tiles much further down toward the ground.

“It’s not our intention to go right to the bottom,” said Sulin. “We don’t want somebody coming up here to see the tile of their loved one to have to get on their hands and knees to see it. That’s not what we are going to do.”

Therefore, plans are in place for the inevitable, eventual expansion of this memorial.

“We’re kind of overwhelmed by that,” he said. “We really are. We’re very, very pleased.”

Plans also include major improvements to the fountain and pool, and those improvements will be costly.

“But we’re working at it,” he said.

“This will never be a fountain that shoots up like Old Faithful,” he said. “That’s not our intention.”

The intention is to provide a place where the public can come and sit at benches quietly, in the evening – “I do it myself,” said Sulin – and just listen to the water trickle down, and think about those folks.

To continue maintenance and expansion, money and assistance are needed, as was the case when the memorial wall was conceived, bringing together local businesses, craftsmen, volunteers, civic organizations, and individuals. Because of them, the wall “has grown into a stunning memorial to our area veterans,” said Sulin. “The memorial committee sincerely thanks everyone who has helped us along the way.”

Providing a memorial wall brings together the best in all parties: the living history of the area, the veterans who selflessly took action, and the families who appreciate the sacrifice.

“Mike [McNeil, memorial wall chairman] and I both agree that it’s such a pleasure and honor to work with these families, or these individuals, to get to know them, to put together the information that goes up on this wall. There’s something right in the world when you get to deal with people like that.”

The 20 recent additions are:

Michael Fournier, United States Army

Raymond Pinkham, United States Navy

Daniel M. McNichol, United States Coast Guard

Wayne Johnston, United States Navy

James A. Smith, United States Navy

Wesley A. Hoch, United States Navy

William K. Hoch, United States Marine Corps

Russel E. Wixson, United States Navy

Christopher L. Blum, United States Air Force

Ralph Demmons Jr., United States Air Force

Donald F. Demmons, United States Air Force

Keith L. Burns, United States Army

Robert A. Palmer, United States Navy

Jeffrey Benner, United States Coast Guard

Arthur King, United States Navy

Earnest Tolman, United States Marine Corps

Harold Tolman, United States Army

Lloyd Tolman, United States Army and United States Navy

Paul Tolman, United States Army

Richard Tolman, United States Army

To learn more about getting someone on the wall, check out their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MidcoastAreaVeteransMemorial/) and website (https://midcoastveteranswall.com/). The Facebook page now has a “donate” button.

“The donate button has become necessary in order to maintain and improve the memorial as time goes on,” said Sulin.

A fundraiser golf tournament is also planned for Friday, September 10 at Goose River Golf Club, in Rockport.