PATTEN, Maine — Thanks to the continued efforts of honoring a local veteran’s ultimate sacrifice, Main Street in Patten comes alive each summer with an impressive array of military flags and flower barrels.
Specialist Dustin J. Harris of Patten died in Bayji, Iraq on April 6, 2006 when an improvised device detonated while he was conducting dismounted patrol operations. Harris was assigned to the 172nd Brigade Support Battalion, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
He was 21 years old and a 2002 graduate of Katahdin Area High School.
“Eight years ago when Dustin Harris was killed in Iraq, Marty Arbo wanted to do some sort of tribute to him for the town,” said Rowena Harvey, president of the board of directors at Green Valley Association. “We had a few flags, but he wanted to really ramp that up. He used his own money to lay out the money to start the project and then donations started coming in.”
There was enough money collected that first year to purchase enough flags to line Main Street and to also place flags in the local cemetery.
Each year, a fundraiser is held, typically around Memorial Day, to help collect money to replace whichever flags have become worn or tattered. The flags represent all branches of the armed service.
“The flags are checked every couple of days to make sure they are still in good condition,” Harvey said.
Flowers were added into the fold three years ago when the Main Street Flower Project Committee was formed. The group was initiated by Harvey and Rae Bates, who was principal at KAHS at the time of Harris’ death. The Katahdin Area High School National Honor Society assisted in helping plant the flowers and Green Valley Association clients help maintain the flowers.
A total of 19 whiskey barrels filled with flowers were purchased and placed under each of the flags.
Local Patten businesses sponsor a flower bucket and the flowers are planted each May.
“It’s a great project that helps the NHS and Green Valley Association get involved in volunteering in the community and helps beautify the town of Patten,” said Jennifer Walker, executive director at GVA. “The flower buckets in front of businesses and store fronts really are beautiful.”
Laurie Porter is one of the many clients of the Green Valley Association who spend time each day during the summer taking care of the flowers. GVA is a not-for-profit organization that assists people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities.
“We water and do the dead heads,” Porter said. “It’s a lot of work and exercise, but it is fun.”
