Staff Writer
Anyone passing or visiting the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou recently had to have noticed one of the cemetery’s now completed projects, the gooseberm, engineered to dissuade visiting geese from creating problems on the grounds of the cemetery.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb ScottA four year project, the Gooseberm at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou is now completed, adding another tastefully created feature to the grounds. The berm was established to deter the frequent flyers, Canadian Geese, from loitering on the cemetery grounds, leaving unwanted signs of their visits.
The goose-berm is the pond visible just before the entrance of the cemetery. In cooperation with wildlife biologist Richard Hoppe and keeping in compliance with the wetland laws, the gooseberm is a natural habitat for ducks, which are welcomed but prevent the larger Canadian Geese from causing problems at the cemetery.
Similar to a duck blind, the berm prevents the geese from wandering the grounds after feeding because they cannot see what’s on the outside of the water’s perimeter. They won’t venture out into the unknown. Plants have been placed encircling the entire pond. Harry Hafford, director of the cemetery, stated, “The Juniper plants are to prevent soil erosion, the Winterberry plants create the buffer and the outside plants (farthest back from the pond) are Potentella, shrubs that bloom with small flowers, grow full but not too tall, these are for looks.” There are also a number of pine trees which when grown will further enhance the reason for the berm.
The goose-berm project took four years to complete but was well worth the time as the result is a picturesque setting,on the always immaculate grounds, one both environmentally correct and emotionally calming.
Hafford also noted that the two-year project of constructing the two additional columbarium walls is now completed. “When this cemetery first opened, “ remarked Hafford,” requests for columbarium niches was at about 25 percent , today that number has increased to 75 percent.” Hafford estimated that the niches at the new walls would be filled within a five to six year span.
The cost of the additional columbarium walls was $140,000, plus in-kind services. “ We are very fortunate and grateful that we have local citizens, volunteers and businesses who so often give of their time and materials to allow the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery to be able to complete these projects,” said Hafford.
The next project on the cemetery’s agenda is a footbridge. Following the recent MIA/POW ceremony held at the cemetery’s Memorial Garden site, Hafford commented that the footbridge project would allow easier access from the facilities road to that area.
Due to wetland laws and the percentage of disturbance allowed within a specific area, it would not be acceptable to pave the area from the road to the walkway but a footbridge is acceptable.
“This footbridge will cost the cemetery $15,000 just in materials alone,” said Hafford. The Maine National Guard has committed to help with the construction but we need to raise a lot more revenue to see the footbridge completed.
There will be further information on this latest project to be constructed at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in future issues of the Aroostook Republican and News.
Hafford, constantly involved in grant-writing devoted to the facilities’ needs, also has one special thing that he would like to see erected on the grounds of the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou, — a chapel.
“I would love to have a chapel on these grounds, where families and visitors could have a place, regardless of the weather, to find comfor in,” said Hafford.
