ROCKLAND — As attendees dedicated 17 new tiles in a ceremony, July 9, 2023, organizers of the Mid Coast Maine Area Veterans Memorial announced that ideas are being discussed for an additional monument. If it comes to completion, a small memorial recognizing service members of the Gulf Wars of recent history would be added to the property as a companion piece to the Civil War monument and the Korea/Vietnam monument that already reside alongside the tile wall behind the American Legion in Rockland.

This idea for the future was among a status report of completed and envisioned projects that are a testament to the ongoing enthusiasm of the memorial wall committee and area veterans.

Today’s ceremony was held around a new water fountain that was intended to be the gentle backdrop for last year’s ceremony. However, parts issues, back orders, and other delays prevented the completion in 2022.

This year, the water flowed, and though emcee David Sulin forewarned that this was not a “Las Vegas fountain,” he offered that attendees can enjoy it on their own terms.

“As we consider our memorial to be a place of quiet reflection, we invite you all to visit the memorial at any time and look over the tiles mounted on the wall while listening to the gentle gurgle of the water as it spills down the sides of the fountain,” said Sulin.

With the fountain in place, the wall committee is now turning its attention to the trees planted at the top of the wall.

“A kind individual with a great deal of knowledge about such things has stepped forward and volunteered to help us with this project,” he said.

In the category of past, present, and future, this year’s tile dedication ceremony fell mostly in the present as the tiles representing 17 Midcoast names were recognized.

More names were listed for service members who are still among the living. More young families were dispersed among the crowd. A grandfather and his grandson, an 8th Grader, both helped raise the color guard flag and POW/MIA flag, consecutively. In between them, two members of the Coast Guard gave salute to the Stars and Stripes.

Mike McNeil, who spearheaded the relocation of the Civil War monument several years ago, was on hand to answer questions regarding that monument.

Also being acknowledged was the “Tile Man,” Mike Fitzgerald.

“We love Mike,” said Sulin. “We love the cooperation that he gives us. And we love the work that he does.”

Fitzgerald faithfully works his schedule around the committee to get the tiles hung, according to Sulin. He doesn’t charge a dime. As a veteran himself, he just wants to participate.

Just like some of the service members who stood up and did their part.

“I don’t need to remind you that these are the names of young men and women who stepped forward when duty called and took their places in that long line of American citizens who, since our country’s founding and on up to today, have given their time and talents, and even their lives, in order for this wonderful country to continue to be a beacon of hope for the rest of the world,” said Sulin.

Midcoast Veterans Memorial Tiles Dedicated on July 9, 2023

Reach Sarah  Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com