Houlton Elks fete vets

HOULTON, Maine — Veterans of World War II up to the present era arrived at the Houlton Lodge of Elks on Nov. 13 for an event and a meal befitting their status as heroes and patriots.
    Before dinner, Sgt. Michael Quint and Staff Sgt. David Carpenter of the Army National Guard paid tribute to the country and to veterans with a flag-folding ceremony. Quint then presented the flag to Roger Normandeau, Elks state president.
According to Jon Bither about 100 attended the free dinner. And the revues were raves. Linwood Smith headed back to Hodgdon with a take-out plate for his wife who could not attend. “It was very good,” he said. Reuben and Edith Doody agreed saying simultaneously: “It was delicious.” He added: “And, there was plenty of it.” Mike Brewer, a Marine Corps veteran from the Viet Nam era said the meal was “fantastic” with all the fixings and it was certainly “the thing to do.”
The meal started with Caesar salad followed by roast beef and chicken cordon bleu that was briefly renamed chicken Monique in honor of the state president’s wife Monique Normandeau. The Region Two School of Applied Technology prepared the desserts: Death By Chocolate, blueberry cobbler, apple crisp and grapenut custard.
The meal was a hit and so was the time to socialize. Chester Nickerson, a former Marine who was a POW in Korea, echoed the sentiments of many when he said: “I always enjoy getting together with other veterans.”