ROCKLAND — “Ask them why a business, a government entity that is the largest employer of veterans, is not flying a flag today?” demanded David Sulin, 2nd Vice Commander of Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post 1, in Rockland.

Sulin told attendees during the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony, Nov. 11, 2022, at Winslow-Holbrook Park, that if he had the phone number for the Post Master of the Rockland Post Office, he’d be dialing it right now.

“That is sinful,” he said. “And every Veteran that works for the Postal Service around here should be complaining.”

Sulin then pointed to the recent election campaigns and how politicians knocked on doors or called at dinner times. And when the candidates were asked for their opinions regarding veterans affairs, they responded their strong respect for veterans.

“I see one elected official here from the City of Rockland, [Nate Davis]” said Sulin. “I am so pleased, and proud that he’d take the time to come. But, where are the rest of them?...Call your representatives, call your senators, send them an email and ask them where they were.”

This particular event has been advertised for a long time, according to Sulin.

“It’s no surprise,” he said. “It’s on everybody’s calendar... It says today is Veteran’s Day.”

At the time when a veteran signs his or her name, and raise their right hand to protect and defend this country, and the way of life that we so dearly love, that person has little or no clue what might be in their future. What dangers they face, and yet they proudly place themselves in the path.

Some veterans, after their service, returned home and changed uniforms in order to continue service as local police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.

“The City of Rockland staff is a perfect example,” said Sulin.

That service should be commended, he said.

Some veterans came home with both visible and hidden scars, that no amount of time can heal.

“Serving their country was just not a slogan,” he said. “But rather, a duty.”

The duty also landed on the shoulders of the families who got left behind, according to Post 1st Vice Commander Ray Thompkins. Thompkins told the audience that he tells his mother every day that while Thompkin’s father was in Vietnam, the mother was the true hero of the family, raising the children by herself.

According to Sulin, ten percent of Mainers are veterans. The largest volume of war vets hailed from WWII, and the per year loss is high. Over 42% of living veterans are age 75 or older.

In Maine, there are around 139,000 living veterans, or just slightly over 10% of the state’s population. Twenty years ago, the number of Maine veterans was over 154,000. We are losing veterans every day, he said.

Arthur Winslow was the first man from Rockland to be killed in WWI. Second LT Albert Holbrook was the second to be killed. In 1918, the city of Rockland designated a plot of land at the intersection of Park and Main streets as Winslow-Holbrook Square. When Holbrook’s sister was in her 80s, she came to Rockland and learned that the square had not been formally named. She worked to get that designated. And now, the park has a monument and is regularly maintained by the Friends of Winslow-Holbrook Memorial Park.

“I think that it says something about the city of Rockland that we have a park downtown on Main Street dedicated to veterans and their families,” said Holbrook’s niece, Gaye Best.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com