CARIBOU, Maine — Gabriel Carlson of Caribou, a Life Scout and troop patrol leader in Troop 184, has donated a bookcase to the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou. The bookcase is part of his effort to achieve the Eagle Scout rank. The bookcase is made primarily out of maple and stands some four feet high. It has plexiglass doors and adjustable shelves. The case is also on wheels making it easy to move. His original motivation for building the bookcase came from a very personal perspective.
“My youngest brother Nikolas became septic soon after he was born in a birth center in Harlingen, Texas,” said Carlson. “He received care in Harlingen and went to a hospital in Houston. He was in the hospital for weeks and my parents visited all the time. Having access to books during their visits helped to pass the time and connect with Nikolas. I felt something like that might be good for residents of the Caribou Maine Veterans Home and visitors.”
Melissa Graham, administrator of the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou, said she was very pleased to accept the gift from Carlson.
“Gabriel’s craftsmanship on this bookcase is outstanding,” said Graham. “His deliberate intentions of creating community collaboration with the Maine Veterans’ Homes and the Caribou Library are impressive! Maine Veterans’ Homes is thrilled he chose our veterans to be recipients for his Scout project!
Carlson said he had the help of professionals, Brian and Robert Bixler with Precision Custom Woodworking in Fort Fairfield, and that the project took about 200 hours to complete. He also said that the Caribou Public Library will be working closely with the project to routinely update books that can be used by residents of the veterans home visitors or staff.
