Patten rallies around flag project; resident spearheads movement

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
COLORS FLYING HIGH — Community support for Martin Arbo’s Main St. Flags project has enabled him to put up nearly 100 flags along the town’s principal streets and in the cemetery. A Memorial Day barbecue in the nearby Patten Academy Park will give residents and visitors the opportunity to donate to the flag project.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    PATTEN — A surge of patriotism and a swell of American pride for the military’s service to the nation  is especially evident during significant holidays like the one coming up — Memorial Day. But, that day off from work, for many, is also tinged with sorrow for the bright young lives lost in battle and even the passing of veterans who did finally make it home. Dating back to the Civil War as Decoration Day, the name of the observance changed in 1882 to Memorial Day to honor all U.S. soldiers who died in service to the country. Young serviceman’s death stirs town response
    After Spc. Dustin J. Harris, a Patten native, was killed in Iraq four years ago another Patten resident Martin Arbo started Main St. Flags. “I went to the town and asked them to put up flags and they didn’t have any money. So, I went out and bought 25 flags by myself and started putting them on the flag poles. As I was putting them up, people kept coming with donations. So the more they donated, the more I put up.”  
    Although Harris’ death was an incentive for the flag project, Arbo said the intention is to honor all veterans. The tradition of having flags along Main St. had died down several years ago. But, once Arbo started putting up flags on his own, enthusiasm built and now, with support from the community, nearly 100 flags are up along principal thoroughfares — Main St., Houlton Rd. and Shin Pond Rd. — in addition to the cemetery. “I had always had in mind to put flagpoles in that cemetery like I did, but I never had the money. As donations kept coming in, and kept coming in, there ended up being enough so I could do that, too,” said Arbo.
    After buying the first 25 flags elsewhere, Arbo said Richardson’s Hardware threw its support behind the project getting him “a lot better price at pretty near their cost.” Nathan Richardson, the owner, said he did it because “it was such a good cause for the town and the community.”
    The recurring problem is that exposure to the weather takes quite a toll on the flagpoles and the flags. “It takes about anywhere from $700-$1,200 a year to keep it going, according to how bad the weather was, for poles, flags, everything. Whatever needs to be done, I do it.”
Memorial Day barbecue
    To raise money and keep Main St. Flags a viable project, Arbo said he will host a fund-raiser out of his own pocket to raise money for flag and flagpole replacements. The event will start around noon in Patten Academy Park on Main St. following the Memorial Day parade and a brief ceremony in the cemetery on Monday, May 31.
    Arbo said there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, soda and water along with a canister for voluntary donations to his flag project. In addition to the food, Arbo has arranged entertainment by popular local musicians who will play country, gospel and patriotic songs. “As of now, I am paying for everything, myself, personally,” said Arbo who is seeking consideration in the form of some donated items from a merchant in a nearby town.
    If it seems Arbo has a personal interest in the project, he does. He said young Harris, whose death triggered such a response was known in the community where he worked at a local garage during his high school years. Arbo said he “knew the family real well and Dustin’s grandfather had taught me in Sunday School.”
    Arbo said he would like to have all the support he can get “to keep the flags flying high in Patten and keep the support going with a show of support for the military and all the people who fought for us and died for us to keep us free.”