A large group of runners bolts from the starting line Saturday morning in the annual Aaron Henderson Memorial 5K race. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — Though it has been five years since the death of Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Henderson of Hodgdon, his memory remains alive and well in the hearts of many.
In what became a record-setting weekend in terms of total dollars raised, friends and family gathered in Houlton to honor the memory of Henderson with the fifth annual Henderson Memorial Softball Tournament and third annual Henderson 5K.
According to Brad Fredericks, one of the event organizers, a grand total of $6,213 was raised over the weekend. The softball tourney and raffle generated $4,513, while the 5K race brought in $1,700.
Megan Miller, 34, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, was the overall winner in Saturday’s Aaron Henderson Memorial 5K race in Houlton. A group of 60 runners and walkers participated. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
“I just want to thank everyone that helped me make this event for Aaron a success,” said Fredericks, a friend of Henderson. “And my goal next year will be $7,000.”
“The race was a huge success,” added Michelle Crane. “We had 15 virtual runners and 60 runners on race day.”
The virtual runners registered for the race and agreed to run the same distance at the same time where they live.
Money raised by the weekend events will be donated to the Green Beret Foundation in Henderson’s name.
Henderson died Oct. 2, 2012, at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan as a result of an improvised explosive device (IED). He was a 1997 Hodgdon High School graduate and joined the U.S. Army in 2000. Henderson served a very distinguished career and became a highly decorated soldier. His service included assignments overseas in Japan, Iraq, Jordan and Afghanistan.
Scott Sjoberg, who joined the military with Henderson and was a close family friend, welcomed those for Saturday’s opening ceremony.
“It has been five years since Aaron passed and we have all learned to grieve and heal in our own ways,” Sjoberg said. “One thing that I have found to be healing to me is music. I will hear some songs and the words will invoke memories I have of Aaron.”
Cliff Urquhart, a member of the Laser Show softball team, connects on this pitch Sunday afternoon during the 5th annual Aaron Henderson Memorial Softball tournament. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Sjoberg shared some verses from the Vince Gill song, “Go Rest High on that Mountain,” which he said have provided some comfort to him.
“Aaron’s work on Earth is done, but what an impact he left behind on all of us who were fortunate enough to know him,” he added.
Jason Little, a former teammate of Henderson’s, made a presentation to the Henderson family on behalf of the Hodgdon JMG.
“Aaron had a lasting impression on so many of us from Hodgdon and that continues to live on,” Little said. “There are so many of us who had the opportunity to play with Aaron. I am thankful to have known him.”
A picture, painted by Hodgdon JMG student Katherine Berube, was presented to the Henderson family.
Other guests included Jane Torres, who spoke about the Wilderness Walk for Warriors and how she carried a specially made flag honoring Henderson; Clark Rafford, who was the assistant principal at Hodgdon High School when Henderson was in school, spoke on the Summit Project; and Adam Carter, a classmate of Henderson from the Class of 1997.
Sjoberg closed out the opening ceremonies by revealing a flag pole had been erected to the entrance of Houlton Community Park, with a plaque honoring Henderson. The plaque was donated by Ted Bowers of Bowers Funeral Home.
The Laser Show captured the 5th annual Henderson Memorial Softball tournament in Houlton this past weekend. The team was a perfect 5-0 in the tourney. Team members include, front from left, Ryan Brewer, Ryan Lincoln, Hailey Cameron and Cliff Urquhart; and back, Casey McCloskey, Jordon Guy, Joey Barnes, Damon Lincoln, Timmy Barnes and Courtney McIntyre. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Laser Show puts on hitting clinic
The Laser Show captured the memorial softball championship as the team, based out of Woodland, went a perfect 5-0 over the weekend. In the championship game, played Sunday evening, the Laser Show defeated County Yankee Grocer 20-8.
Team members include Ryan Brewer, Ryan Lincoln, Hailey Cameron, Cliff Urquhart, Casey McCloskey, Jordan Guy, Joey Barnes, Damon Lincoln, Timmy Barnes and Courtney McIntyre.
Team members of County Yankee Grocery included Matt Hanning, Billy Washburn, Seth Dorr, McKensie Palmer, James Kendall, Jim Castner, David Cropley, Liz Reed, Dan Howe, Ben Flewelling, Nicole Cropley and Aspen Flewelling.
Miller captures road race crown
Megan Miller, 34, of Lebanon, New Hampshire was the overall race winner as she completed the 5-kilometer course in 22 minutes, 18.3 seconds.
County Yankee Grocer finished as runners-up in the fifth annual Henderson Memorial softball tournament this past weekend in Houlton. Team members include, front from left, Matt Hanning, Billy Washburn, Seth Dorr, McKensie Palmer, James Kendall, Back row: Jim Castner, David Cropley, Liz Reed, Dan Howe, Ben Flewelling. Not pictured are Nicole Cropley and Aspen Flewelling. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Individual results from the 5K race were: 1, Miller, 22:18.3; 2, Jeremy Stone, Houlton, 22:44.5; 3, Michael Hartford, Washburn, 23:00.2; 4, Tim Williams, Houlton, 24:24.1; 5, Angela Ewings, Houlton, 24:38.4; 6, Jason Little, Hodgdon, 24:53.9; 7, Kurt Kafferlin, Houlton, 25:00.8; 8, Teagan Ewings, Houlton, 25:10.0; 9, Kiley Henderson, Hodgdon, 25:25.3; 10, Adam Bell, Houlton, 25:33.0; 11, Isaac Potter, Houlton, 25:44.0; 12, Teanne Ewings, Houlton, 26:48.3; 13, Chad Duff, Hodgdon, 27:48.0; 14, Sarah Williams, Houlton, 27:55.4; 15, Grace Kafferlin, Houlton, 29:17.2; 16, Brent Bailey, Houlton, 29:25.3; 17, Dallas Henderson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 30:24.5; 18, Sarah Canales, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 30:36.2; 19, June Wallace, Scarborough, 30:37.4; 20, Natalia Mowrey, Houlton, 31:30.0; 21, Daniel Henderson, Hodgdon, 31:44.8; 22, Cheryl Quint, Houlton, 31:53.5; 23, Sam Henderson, Hodgdon, 32:14.5; 24, Chad Thompson, Cary Plantation, 32:20.9; and 25, Dave Bates, Houlton, 32:54.4.
Also, 26, Matt Quint, Houlton, 34:00.1; 27, Candy Nevers, Oakfield, 36:02.8; 28, Heidi Alford, Cibolo, Texas, 37:06.3; 29, Sadie Thompson, Cary Plantation, 39:53.4; 30, Mia Henderson, Hodgdon, 39:56.7; 31, Derek Laney, Newport, 42:50.2; 32, P.J. Laney, Newport, 43:26.6; 33, Shane Mowrey, Houlton, 44:13.2; 34, Anton Mowrey, Houlton, 46:38.9; 35, Cynthia Thompson, Cary Plantation, 47:14.3; 36, Chris Henderson, Hodgdon, 47:19.0; 37, Janet Ragsdale, Newton, New Jersey, 50:31.8; 38, Diane Fleming, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 50:31.8; 39, Rachel Horton, Hodgdon, 51:42.2; 40, Gail Miller, Littleton, 55:39.2; 41, Beverly Kirk, Houlton, 55:40.1; 42, Mark Craven, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 58:54.1; 43, Jonathan Bell, Brazil, Indianapolis, 59:00.8; 44, Davis Henderson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1:00:29.8; 45, Holly Henderson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1:00:50.8; 46, Corey Henderson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1:01:27.6; 47, Lanny Putnam, Hodgdon, 1:04:44.1; 48, Sharol Putnam, Hodgdon, 1:04:44.1; 49, Raymond Putnam, Cary Plantation, 1:05:10.3; and 50, Jill Hoyt, Hampden, 1:05:11.0.
In addition, 51, Connor Lilley, Smyrna Mills, 1:05:26.1; 52, Paul Hoyt, Hampden, 1:05:27.0; 53, Fred Taylor, Houlton, 1:05:28.5; 54, Fred Sjoberg, Houlton, 1:05:57.3; 55, Marilyn Sjoberg, Houlton, 1:05:58.2; 56, William Adams, Levant, 1:06:58.2; 57, Elizabeth Adams, Levant, 1:07:01.8; 58, Anne Adams, Linneus, 1:07:09.1; 59, Mary Sadewater, Smyrna Mills, 1:09:05.5; 60, Zachary Lilley, Smyrna Mills, 1:09:05.9.
