Ceremony marks the high price of freedom

12 years ago
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve presented the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal to Sgt. Charles Cunningham, a resident of the Maine Veteran’s Home in Caribou during an Aug. 7 ceremony.

By Donna DeLong
Special to the Aroostook Republican

CARIBOU — August 7 is National Purple Heart Day.

The special day was marked in Caribou at the Maine Veteran’s Home with a recognition ceremony where medals including the Purple Heart, the State of Maine Gold Star, and the State of Maine Silver Star were awarded to local veterans or their surviving family members.

Veterans, families and community members were present to witness these veterans and their families honored for their courage,

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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Ruth Bouchard of Caribou accepts the Gold Star Honorable Service Medal on behalf of her brother SP5 Dana L. Mace who was killed in action July 7, 1969 in Vietnam from Capt. Michael Gary of Vassalboro, who is attached to the Command Engineer Support Company for the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve.
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve presented the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal to SP4 James J. Saucier of Caribou, who was wounded in action during the Vietnam War.
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve presented the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal to SP5 Robert Lagasse of Caribou, who was wounded in action during the Vietnam War.
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Mary Turner of Presque Isle accepted the Gold Star Honorable Service Medal on behalf of her late brother Sgt. Clifford C. Turner, who was killed in action April 23, 1943 in Europe. Presenting the medal was Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve.
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
John Plant Jr. of Fort Fairfield accepts his Silver Star Honorable Service Medal from Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve. PFC Plant was wounded in action on Nov. 9, 1944 during World War II.
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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve presented the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal to PFC Kimber C. Noyes of Caribou, who was wounded in action during the Vietnam War.

willingness to serve our state and nation and commitment to the defense of freedom. Some of these veterans have waited since serving in the Second World War. Witnessing their recognition as they walked up, wheeled over to the podium or laid in their hospital bed to receive this honorable acknowledgment of their sacrifice, that many have waited a lifetime to receive was awe inspiring and humbling. Some were surrounded by family and others were alone, but all were dignified and proud to have served their country.

The Purple Heart can be traced back to the first military award of the United States Armed Forces. General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, directing that “Whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear … over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth.”

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Photo courtesy of Donna DeLong
At left, Capt. Michael Gary of the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve presented the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal to Sgt. Charles Cunningham, a resident of the Maine Veteran’s Home in Caribou during an Aug. 7 ceremony.

Unlike the European tradition of military awards reserved only for high-ranking officers, The United States, in the spirit of the Revolution, the Badge of Military Merit could be awarded to soldiers of any rank. General Washington said, “The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all.”

After the Revolutionary War the Badge of Military Merit was not used and the Purple Heart shape did not come back into being until 1932, when the United States War Department authorized a new medal to be awarded to any member of the Armed Services who has been wounded or killed in action. The first to receive the medal, received it retroactively for the service during the First World War. Since then nearly two million Purple Hearts have been awarded to American veterans including 335 Mainers in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The State of Maine Gold and Silver Star Honorable Service Medals were dedicated on Aug. 7, 2006 to honor Maine soldiers who were killed in action, who died in combat or were wounded in combat, and awarded the Purple Heart. The Gold Star medal is presented to the veteran or family in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice made. The Silver Star medal is presented to the veteran or family if the veteran is deceased.

Presenting Officer Captain Michael Gary of Vassalboro is with the Command Engineer Support Company for the Maine Department of Army Guard and Reserve and holds the monthly weekend training sessions in Caribou. He had the honor of presenting the awards Aug. 7 at the Caribou ceremony.

Melissa Graham, administrator of The Maine Veteran’s Home was also present in awarding the medals. Graham said, “Our goal at this facility is to make our veterans feel welcome and they all have camaraderie between them that is indicative of a family. We are always striving to ensure that we provide the best care and understanding to our veterans and are always making sure the facility is well maintained. Renovations of all the resident rooms will be starting shortly,” she said.

Recognized with Gold Stars were three Aroostook men who were killed in action: PFC Reno Guerrette of Presque Isle, who died Oct. 2, 1944 in Italy; Sgt. Clifford C. Turner of Caribou, who died April 23, 1943 in Europe; and SP5 Dana L. Mace of Caribou, who died July 7, 1969 in Vietnam.

Receiving Silver Stars Honorable Service Medals were 11 Aroostook soldiers who were wounded on the field of battle: Sgt. Charles E. Cunningham and Cpl. Preston D. Holmes, both of the Maine Veterans Home; PFC John E. Plant Jr., T/5 Ernest W. Ward and Sgt. Donald R. Smyth, all of Fort Fairfield; SP5 Robert Lagasse, PFC Kimber C. Noyes, and SP4 James J. Saucier, all of Caribou; and SP4 Ivan J. Cyr Jr., SP5 Thomas K. Lunn and SP5 Ronald Soucier, all of Presque Isle.