PRESQUE ISLE – Students and faculty in the residential construction program at Northern Maine Community College are pitching in to help build a wall that will honor area Veterans and service members, and at the same time support a countywide effort to stock food pantries throughout the region.
The Heroes Wall, a project coordinated by WAGM-TV to pay tribute to Veterans and soldiers currently serving in the military, will be unveiled at a ceremony Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) at 2 p.m. in the Aroostook Centre Mall, which will serve as the temporary home for the wall until a permanent venue is located.
The wall, now under construction in the residential construction lab on the NMCC campus, will feature dozens of granite etched photographic images of individuals who have served or are currently serving the nation. Over the past few weeks, residents from throughout Aroostook County have been logging on to the WAGM-TV Web site to upload photos of their loved ones to be included on the Heroes Wall.
The photos are being etched on granite plaques that measure 5-inches high by 7-inches wide or 8.5-inches high by 11-inches wide, depending on what is ordered. In addition to the photo, the Veteran or service member’s name and hometown are etched on each plaque.
The granite work is being completed by county native Mike Roy, who is originally from Fort Kent, but now resides in Brunswick, where he operates Get-Etched.com, a custom laser etching company.
NMCC Residential Construction Instructor Guy Jackson, himself a Vietnam-era Veteran, and his students are hard at work completing the wall in time for the Nov. 11 unveiling. The long-time instructor, now in his 27th year at the Presque Isle College, is pleased to be part of such a worthwhile project.
“Our Veterans and those currently serving our country deserve every recognition and honor that is given them. I am pleased that our students will have the opportunity to work on this important project. It not only provides them with a great chance to learn by doing, it also involves them in the community in a project that will be seen by thousands of people. It certainly goes a long way toward helping instill a sense of pride in their work,” said Jackson. “As a Veteran, this project has personal significance.”
The wall is being constructed in three separate sections. The larger 4-foot by 8-foot center section, that will be unveiled on Veteran’s Day, will be filled with granite tiles ordered through the WAGM Web site prior to Nov. 2. Two smaller 4-foot by 4-foot sections will have tiles, ordered after Nov. 2, added afterwards.
Coordinators of the Heroes Wall approached Jackson about working on the project because they both appreciated the great quality work his program is renowned for and saw great benefit in involving students in completing the project.
“This is a Heroes Wall that will feature individuals from throughout the county who have served or are serving their nation. Involvement of the NMCC students is most fitting as they themselves are from communities throughout Aroostook. Just like the individuals featured on the wall represent some of the finest examples of county folks that serve, the team building the wall represent some of the region’s finest future professionals in the construction trade,” said Kelly Landeen, WAGM local sales manager, who along with station sales representative Bernie Lagassie is coordinating the project.
Aside from honoring local Veterans and service members, proceeds from the sale of granite etched tiles for the Heroes Wall project will benefit the “Feed the County” program, which helps supply food to the 21 food pantries in Aroostook from Fort Kent to Houlton.
“Feed the County” was started in April 2003 as a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities Maine, WAGM-TV and Aroostook Federal Savings and Loan to help supply food to pantries throughout the region. Over the last four years, the three organizations have teamed together to encourage individuals, businesses and communities to get involved and help raise awareness of the tremendous need for help.
Catholic Charities, through “Feed the County,” collects donations of non-perishable food items, cash and household items. Household items are sold at a fraction of their value to low to moderate-income residents of Aroostook County to help the organization finance the operation of the food bank.
Individuals wanting to order a plaque to honor a Veteran or service member can log on to www.wagmtv.com and click on the Heroes Wall link, where they will be prompted to select from three options.
The unveiling ceremony Nov. 11 is open to the public. As part of the ceremony, the Don Campbell Band will be performing to entertain those gathered.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
NORTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE residential construction students and their instructor Guy Jackson prepare the trim for the Heroes Wall that will be unveiled at the Aroostook Centre Mall during a ceremony Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) at 2 p.m. Working on the project are, from left: John Kennedy and Adam Bloom of Castle Hill, Jim DuVal of Caribou, Jackson, David Riopelle of Mars Hill, and Niklas Roble of New Sweden.
