The Northern division of the Maine Antique Tractor Club (M.A.T.C.) hosted a Memorial Tractor Trek on Sunday, Aug. 10, with proceeds donated to Hospice of Aroostook.
“Understandably, people often do not think about hospice care until it directly touches their lives”
Antique tractors were driven by 21 club members a total of 37 miles from Caribou to Washburn to Presque Isle and back to Caribou in honor of the 68 names listed on the memory board. The memory board was mounted on the back of a 1952 International “Ole Yeller” truck driven by Sterling Haynes. Community members were able to have a name listed in memory of a loved one for a $25 pledge. Club members from throughout Aroostook County who volunteered their time and tractors included: Clayton Turner, Chris and Sonia Langille, Richard Carter, David Plaud, Paul Boulier, Keith Boulier, Dwayne and Zachary Dow, Dale Campbell, Bob Bartlett, Bill Fitzherbert, Bert Tilley, Lionel Roy, Jeff Roy, Roger and Dennis Quint, Meredith Folsom, Larry and Perlin Bull, and Joe Cheney.
The Maine Antique Tractor Club was founded in 1994 by a handful of tractor lovers. Today the club has grown to over 500 members and sponsors. The Northern division of MATC began several years ago and has built their own eliminator for County MATC members to host tractor pulls.
Since 1984, Visiting Nurses of Aroostook’s program Hospice of Aroostook has provided care for those with a terminal illness. Their mission is to ensure that hospice care is available throughout northern Maine to all who need it. In 2007, Hospice of Aroostook provided care for 176 patients and their families. Hospice care also provides bereavement support to the families.
This was the first year that the Northern division of MATC held a tractor trek. The bright yellow antique truck with the memory board lead the trek of 28 1940-1950 model Farmall, John Deere, Allis Chalmers, Massey Harris and Oliver tractors. Drivers left from the Caribou Skyway Plaza parking lot and drove to the Washburn Trailrunners Club in Washburn for a coffee break and then it was off to the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle for a BBQ sponsored by the Washburn Beavers ATV Club. The trek finished back in Caribou.
The memory board is currently on display at the Aroostook Centre Mall. Comments such as, “Thank you for the opportunity to remember my loved one,” “It was so healing to see my loved one’s name on that board,” and “What a wonderful idea! It is such a unique way to remember someone who was so special in my life and continues to be held dear in my heart,” were made by individuals whose loved ones received care through hospice. MATC fondly honored and remembered four club members; Frank Thibodeau, Keith Kennedy, Earlan Turner and Alan Kingsbury. It was a special day of remembrance and a chance to give something back by supporting Hospice of Aroostook.
Keith Boulier, Northern Division president, and Cheryl Boulier, secretary/treasurer, presented Gail Phair-Kirk, hospice administrator, and Robin Holmes, hospice volunteer manager, with the total proceeds of $2136.50 raised by the Memorial Trek to support hospice care in the county.
“Understandably, people often do not think about hospice care until it directly touches their lives,” explained Gail Phair-Kirk. “Hospice of Aroostook is a non-profit program that is so grateful for the donations and support from individuals, businesses and organizations such as the Maine Antique Tractor Club.”
For more information on MATC, visit www.maineantiquetractorclub.com and for Hospice of Aroostook visit www.visitingnursesofaroostook.com.
