ROCKLAND — “As long as we live, they too shall live,” said Dave Franclemont, in an opening prayer to the 2024 tile dedication ceremony at the Midcoast Maine Area Veterans Memorial. 

Several new tiles will be added this year to the memorial wall in the upper parking lot of the American Legion Post 1, on Limerock Street, in Rockland, following a dedication ceremony Sunday, July 28, 2024. 

With a peacefully trickling fountain, well-groomed ground that looks out toward the setting sun, and hearing the patriotic tunes of Bay Winds North ensemble, families gathered to hear the names of their loved ones read aloud and etched into a rapidly expanding local source of history. 

In May 1861, nearly 1400 soldiers from Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties encamped on the very hilltop fields where the veterans’ wall now stands, forming the 4th Maine regiment. According to David Sulin, some evidence suggests that the camp’s parade ground flags flew in the same location as today’s veteran wall flagpoles now preside. 

“After just a handful of weeks of preparation, those brave young men marched down from these hills and into history,” said Sulin.

MMAVM is hoping to produce a flagpole and flag in honor of those soldiers, as well as complete an upgrade to the trees planted at the top of the wall. MMAVM has also considered the possible creation of a small monument for the participants in all of the Gulf Wars of recent history, and small Civil War and Korean War/Vietnam War monuments. 

Post 1 Chaplain Gary Grant said that some of the tile recipients who served made the ultimate sacrifice. Some are still alive, but signed a contract to give their lives if needed. 

All are etched on the walls for future generations to see, on hallowed grounds with a history of its own.

The 2024 tile recipients

For more information about the wall, donate, or search names of tile recipients, visit https://midcoastareaveteransmemorial.com/

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com