Special to the Pioneer Times
More than 60 friends and family members gathered on April 6 at the Harris residence in Patten, to celebrate the life of their son, Dustin. It was the second anniversary of his death in Iraq. 
Contributed photo
CELEBRATION OF LIFE – This door, from Harris’ room in Iraq, is signed by members the 172nd Stryker Brigade from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the soldiers Harris was deployed with in Iraq.
Stories were told, hugs were given, and an air of nostalgia was felt as the community remembered this young man.
On a supply convoy two years earlier in Iraq, Spc. Harris was killed by an IED (Improvised explosive device), and is one of the more than 4,000 deaths since the invasion of Iraq more than 5 years ago. Looking around the room above the garage at the many photos and memorabilia, the eye is drawn to a door sitting in a corner, against a wall. It would be an ordinary door if not for all the writing and photos on it. At a closer look, the door is signed by members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. These are the soldiers Dustin was deployed with in Iraq.
The story goes that the door is the original one from Dustin’s room in Iraq. All the soldiers signed it, and made sure it made its way back to Alaska, with the intent of getting it to the Harris family. Capt. Arbogast, on a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move from Fairbanks to Washington, D.C., brought the door with him in his household goods. Last summer, he loaded the door on the back of his pickup truck and headed for Maine. He dropped the door off to the Harris’ home.
Dustin graduated from Katahdin High School, and was in the service about a year, even going through paratrooper school, when he was called up. His dad, Scott, says Dustin was very positive about being there. He had a lot of interaction with the Iraqi people. He helped build a playground for the Iraqi children.
Dustin’s aunt, Debbie Coolong said, “The young ones are dying. I don’t think we need any more war. Let’s finish one (war) before starting another.”
Lynn Merry agrees with her sister. “Resolve it and get out of there,” she said, “Dustin did not die in vain. He believed in what he was doing, and we still do believe it.”
Sandra Troutt, Lorna’s mom, pointed out the comfort quilt hanging on the wall.
“I now make them for other families who have lost a family member,” she said. “I have made over 900 quilt squares myself, and have collected over 2,000 all together. I have made 67 quilts, five of which have gone to Maine soldiers’ families. I just sent one to Bethel and another to Old Town.”
The Harris’ received their Comfort Quint on 9-11-2006.
“We received the painting of Dustin sitting on a tank, on our anniversary,” said Troutt. “We have seen more eagles in the last two years than I have seen all my life. We laid a wreath for Dustin on Memorial Day. When we got home, an eagle flew right at our picture window. There have been too many ‘eagle sightings’ for it to be coincidental. It usually happens on special occasions. I just look to the sky and think, that’s Dustin, soaring high on the wings of an eagle.”
