Though the ceremony had been planned for Memorial Day, Little League officials decided their opening day celebration would be appropriate for the Lowery Field dedication.
The Lowery Field is named for Sgt. First Class Jonathan Allen Lowery, 38, who died Dec. 14 while on patrol with the U.S. Army in Mosul, Iraq after he was injured by small arms fire. Lowery, who grew up on Cary Street in Houlton and graduated with Houlton High School’s Class of 1987, was serving with the Third Squadron, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps based at Fort Hood, Texas.
He is the son of Winfield Lowery Sr. of Houlton and the late Frances Lowery.
“I think it is a good tradition that the town started and we thought it was a good idea to carry it on,” said Little League President Ben Drew. “We proposed the idea to the Little League board and they unanimously supported it. The field dedication actually goes along great since the National Guard did a big chunk of the groundwork. We just thought it would be nice to recognize an area veteran.”
The Lowery Field, located behind Houlton Southside School, gives Houlton Little League its fifth field for 12 teams now. Two other fields are located adjacent to the Houlton Elementary and Southside schools — Savings Bank of Maine and Rotary fields. The Stephen Porter and Weston Langley fields are back-to-back in Houlton Community Park and are still being utilized by Houlton Little League.
The Lowery Field is not complete yet. The field has a backstop and rubber throw down bases.
“Each year, we take all the funds we raise and put them toward the Field of Dreams Project,” Drew said. “Last fall, we used the remaining funds to put up the backstop. Once the ground dries, we will be cutting out the infield, bring in the same infield mix we put on the other fields and should have the pitcher’s mound and anchored bases in place by the first of June.”
When all the work is done, the Lowery Field will be usable for games and provide a nice practice facility for the organization.
“We won’t have enough funds this year to put up a perimeter fence all the way around,” Drew said. “That will cost about another $20,000, so we will continue to fund-raise for that.”
Nelson Construction was hired to finish the groundwork on the Savings Bank of Maine Field, but the U.S. Army National Guard carried out groundwork on both Little League sites — Rotary and Lowery fields.
“They probably saved us about $120,000 in time, material, fuel and manpower, which is a pretty substantial contribution,” Drew noted.
In 2006-07, Little League officials put in a request with the National Guard after they turned from an artillery to an engineering unit.
“The National Guard has a statewide system where they do volunteer work,” Drew said. “We put in the request, SFC Matthew Quint moved it up the chain, and we were approved for the following year.”
The National Guard, a contingency of the 185th Engineer Support Company out of the 133rd Battalion, helped with the groundwork for the Rotary Field and then shifted their efforts to creating a flat area behind Southside School, which allows room for two fields.
After a two-week push from the National Guard Unit, local soldiers — Quint, Sgt. First Class Hal Maker, Sgt. Steve Boulier, PFC Shane Quint and PFC Doug Hagerman — stayed on to follow up the project. Many hours were also put in by Little League volunteers, as well.
“Basically, all the labor minus the contract work paid out through Nelson Construction and donated work done by National Guard, most of the hand work that has been done, has been by Little League volunteers,” Drew added. “It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for them.”
Houlton Little League consists of roughly 145 players — in softball (9-12) and two baseball divisions, the Minor (7-10) and Majors (10-12).
“Area sponsors contribute a fair amount of funding, too,” said Drew. “Kids pay a small fee to participate, but area sponsors make a lot of what we do happen every year from covering operating expenses, to equipment and uniforms.”
Houlton Little League holds two Tag Days annually, the first was earlier this month and the next is set for the beginning of June. The second fundraiser is selling candy bars.
“Funds will be put into purchasing the infield mix and bases for the Lowery Field,” said Drew. “If we have enough, maybe we can look into getting dugouts.”
The Little League opening ceremonies began with the introduction of all players on each team, baseball and softball. Then, the State Select Honor Guard brought in the colors. After the national anthem was sung by Little Leaguer Victoria Holmes, the Little League Pledge was read. Drew recognized those who helped with the fruition of the Field of Dreams Project and then unveiled the new sign for the Lowery Field. Nicholas Lowery, nephew of Jonathan Lowery, along with SFC Quint threw out the first pitches.
Attending for the Lowery family were: father Winfield, Sr., brothers, Winfield, Jr. and his daughter Sarah and his granddaughter Laurel; Michael and Carolyn “Sis”; and Lawrence and Jennifer with their children Nicholas, Benjamin and Zachary.
Also on hand were members of the U.S. Marine Corps League and the United Vets Motorcycle Club.
“As a veteran, and as a community which is very supportive of its area veterans, we thought it was important to recognize Jonathan and his [ultimate] sacrifice in the service of his country,” said Drew.