healingfield

3rd District Public Relations Historian, Paul R. Bernard, Post 111 Judge Advocate, John L. Jordan and 3rd District Sergeant at Arms, Warren K. Clark spent 5 hours setting up Turner Maine's 1st "Turner Memorial Tribute"

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

TURNER - 911 American flags will be waving proudly at the registered office of the Turner Post 111 located at 451 Lower Street from July 4th, Independence Day, to July 27th, which was the "End of the Korean War". United States troops, under the banner of the United Nations, joined in defending South Korea against an invasion of communist forces in the north, later supported by China.

The flags were obtained through Sergeant at Arms, Arthur Paradis, Post 22, Korean War Veteran, Lewiston.
The flags made up the "Turner Memorial Tribute". The tribute was set up to remember the servicemen and women who have served or are currently serving our country and will also memorialize the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.

"I believe we need this. I believe Americans need more of this, Maine needs more of this, and certainly our town needs more of this. Taking the time to pause and remember and reflect," said Chaplain Paul R. Bernard.

We also registered the Turner Veterans Council as a 501 C3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization for the purpose of establishing a Veterans Memorial Park in Turner. We will be looking for donors, individuals or businesses who would be willing to support the establishing of a "Turner Veterans Memorial Park".

Storm clouds are passing over the "Turner Memorial Tribute" as old Glory holds its own. 3rd District Public relations Historian, Paul R. Bernard and 3rd District Sergeant at Arms, Warren K. Clark examine the silhouette of the soldier praying at the foot of the cross. The POW/MIA empty chair is in front of the soldier.

Following the Fourth of July Parade held in Turner people began stopping by to take pictures of the "Turner Memorial Tribute".

Bill VanTasel of Turner Publishing also stopped by to take pictures. He asked how many flags did we have? We said 850. He then asked if that was a significant number? We did not believe so. However when we completed the installation of all the United States Flags the end total was 911. Interestingly enough memorial fields began after 911. 911 is a number imprinted on most of our minds, as the world as we knew it, changed forever.

We are in hopes of establishing another "Turner Memorial Tribute" next year. This years event was sponsored by the Turner Veterans Council. The restoration of the trailer with the soldier and flags totaled: 2,267.52 All labor and flags were donated. Industrial Arts Instructor Walt Gary supervised the restoration and construction of the "Veterans Memorial Trailer". Students that participated were Matt Bates, Tom Berry, Sean Brogan, Chris Child, Joe Coady, Zack Demarais, Jarred Hood, Allen Lessard and Land Turnenne.

The following two photos were shot by the Historian on 07/06/07 as the sun was setting over the beautiful mountains of Central Maine.

The following photos were taken by the Historian on July 12th, 2007. Can you believe the sight I'm seeing and the variety of thoughts racing through my mind as I take this photo of the Sun setting on Old Glory. The words cannot be expressed.

The following photos were taken by the Historian on July 13th, 2007

The above photo is of Stanley Jordan who will be 95 years old this September 20th, 2007

The second to the right is: General John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing

His grandsons, Army Second Lieutenant Richard Warren Pershing was killed in action in Vietnam 1968. Also Colonel John Warren Pershing III is buried beside "Black Jack"

The following photos was a visit of Legion Riders from Topsham, July 14th, 2007

Director: Otto "Bill" Kilde, Assistant Director: David Hubbard, Treasurer: Mike Owens, Secretary: Cindy Turner, Sergeant at Arms: Greg Pierce, Chaplain: Kathie Cochrane, Historian: Jane Pierce, Membership: Kaye Bouchard

Check out their web site at: http://www.post202me.org/AmLegRiders/index2.htm

Retired Minister, Richard Wrentzel of Turner displays his patriotism while holding his Red Sox cap. Pastor Wrentzel called Channel 8 news and they came over and did an interview and televised it on July 11th, 2007.

Stanley Jordan, long time Turner resident will turn 95 this September 20th. Happy Birthday Stanley and keep gardening.

Ron Frechette and his wife Samantha visited the Turner Memorial Tribute and returned to provide a 10 inch wide lawn mower to mow between the rows of flags so as to keep the field up longer.

Article was edited by Historian

Veterans turn Turner lawn into 'Memorial Tribute'
Audio Slide Show: Legional Tribute
By Daniel Hartill , Staff Writer, Sun Journal

Pictures by: Russ Dilingham
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

TURNER - As Vietnam "Era" Veterans Paul Bernard and Warren Clark finished one row of flags - the first batch of 911 they wrestled into the rocky soil of Bernard's front lawn - buddy John Jordan watched.
Then, he stunned his friends.
Jordan, also a Vietnam "Era" Veteran, wanted to help, but he was unable to bend because of a prosthetic leg.

"He takes his leg off, lays it at the end of the row and he drags himself up the row," Bernard recalled Monday. It went on that way for five hours. The only sound was the hammer hitting the steel rod used to dig holes for the small flags.

"Every time I'd look at him, I'd see him dragging himself," Bernard said. "He did 10 rows himself, dragging his body back and forth."
In the end, with flags covering Bernard's wide lawn at 451 Lower St., the men had their "Turner Memorial Tribute".
That's what Bernard called it, borrowing the name from veterans' groups around the country who have been filling lawns and fields to commemorate the Independence Day holiday and honor people who died in America's wars. Getting the flags from a local cemetery after they'd flown above veterans' graves, Bernard aimed to fill his yard.

He thought he had 850. Then he and his friends, all members of Turner Post 111 of the American Legion, started fixing up the broken ones.
When they finished placing them in the lawn - in straight, cemetery-like rows - they discovered they had 911.

"We had no idea," he said. "We couldn't have planned it if we tried."
The collection of flags is eye-catching.
Located on the same street as Leavitt Area High School, the field has drawn onlookers ever since it was completed on July 4.
People slow down, stop, take pictures and even walk onto Bernard's lawn.
"They're all quiet," he said. And though the flags might seem celebratory in another context, they seem somber here.
"People ask if they represent each of the U.S. soldiers dead in Iraq," Bernard said.
It's not even close, he tells them. After all, that total is well over 3,000 men and women and climbing. Bernard said he'd run out of land if he tried to put that many flags in the ground.
Besides, he hopes people see the creation and join his legion post's aim to create a "Veterans' Memorial Park in Turner.
"People forget," he said. "It keeps the memories alive. This is just an idea of how it impacts you."

A letter was sent in by Carolee "Hussey" Taylor of Lewiston to the Editor of the Sun Journal with the following responses.

Leave the Flags There
Friday, July 20, 2007

The article "Veterans turn Turner lawn into 'healing field.'" (July 10) should have been called a "lawn of disgrace."
Flags should not be removed from the graves of veterans. They are placed to show respect for those who fought for our freedom and our rights. Do we have less respect for them now that they have passed away, so we take something that was given to them?
My father, a Vietnam veteran, passed away in March. I would be appalled if the cemetery where I laid him to rest took the flag put there for him and gave it to someone else. Leave the flags where they should be. I try to keep a flag on my dad's grave, and have already had to replace it a few times since March.
I am not the only one who feels that was a disgrace. When the rest of my brothers and my sister saw the article, they were appalled. My aunts and my uncles also believe the same way.
People pay for cemetery lots, and once flags are put there, they should belong to the person who owns the lot. If others take them, then I believe they are stealing them.
Have they thought about that?

Carolee "Hussey" Taylor, Lewiston

July 9th, 2007 Al and Kathy Cichon dropped by and donated 6 new American Flags in memory of the Veteran who was killed in a Motorcycle/Moose accident.

Posted by: Touching at July 10, 2007 7:16 AM
I found this article very touching...Paul, Warren and John are a true inspiration to us all. Let's not forget, we may not agree about the war... however I think we should ALL be supporting our troops!

Posted by: Sincere Clerk at July 10, 2007 8:45 AM
Paul is a caring and dedicated member of our community; it is of no surprise of his dedication to this project as well, thanks Paul.

Posted by: T. Stewart at July 10, 2007 9:09 AM
Simply beautiful.......God Bless the gentlemen who did this. The sight is breathtaking.

Posted by: Pat at July 10, 2007 5:08 PM
What a touching tribute to our fallen soldiers. I just hope some idiot does not ruin the whole thing by vandalizing this healing field. God Bless America and those who have fought for us and for those who have lost their lives.

Posted by: LEO at July 10, 2007 10:51 pm

Proud of my brother.

Rules of Flags
Thursday, July 26, 2007

This is in response to the letter "Leave the flags there" (July 20). Due to the rules and regulations by the cemetery owners, at least at St. Peter's and Mount Hope, flags cannot be put on the lots prior to two weeks before Memorial Day and have to be removed no later than two weeks after, which allows the flags to remain through Flag Day, June 14. The reason is the flags interfere with mowing and upkeep of the cemeteries through the summer. Lewiston Auburn Veterans Council members put out more than 3,000 flags in those two cemeteries, and have to follow the cemetery rules. If council members don't remove the flags, the custodians of the cemeteries will.

Gerry N. Cain, Women’s Marine Corps Association, Lewiston

Agree with Sentiment
Friday, July 27, 2007

On July 20, Carolee Taylor of Lewiston wrote: "Flags should not be removed from the graves of veterans." Veterans could not agree more. The citizens and veterans of my town, Turner, place flags on all veteran graves and proudly leave them up for the entire year. This year, for the first time, the American Legion was successful in passing a bill to provide American flags to Maine veterans' cemeteries. The flags given to the Turner veterans had to be removed from Saint Peter's Cemetery, as its policy allows us to place flags two weeks before and two weeks after Memorial Day. The memorial tribute placed in Turner by Vietnam veterans was for the purpose of continuing to honor the memory of those who have served, or are now serving, and those who have paid the ultimate price. I would like to invite Ms. Taylor, as the daughter of a veteran and eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary, to join with us in the fight in preserving the memory of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. We need members with the same strong convictions to join our ranks in fighting for veterans benefits.

Paul Bernard, 3rd District, American Legion Public Relations Historian, Turner

Wrongful Accusations
Sunday, July 29, 2007

As a veteran, I feel that I must respond to Carolee Taylor's letter, printed July 20.
First and foremost, Taylor should address her concerns to the cemetery involved. For example, St. Peter's Cemetery requires that all flags must be removed from grave sites two weeks after Memorial Day or the flags will be destroyed in a proper manner. Rather than have that happen, the flags, which are in excellent condition, are often given to veterans' organizations, which continue to fly them until they are no longer serviceable and are honorably disposed of. The Turner veterans used the flags to erect a healing field, and they did it with respect and dignity, and I thank them for caring so much for all who have served our country with honor. I do agree that the flags should remain in place, however, the cemetery has the last say on the matter. The flags that Taylor refers to were not "stolen" by anyone. They were used to continue a tribute to all veterans. I can understand why anyone would be upset about flag removal, however, one must have their facts together before making such absurd allegations.

Emmett Stuart, Commander, American Legion Post 153, New Auburn

Owes Veterans an Apology
Sunday, July 29, 2007

This is in response to the letter July 20 from Carolee Taylor.
I would think that before she wrote such an insulting letter, she would have gotten her facts straight. The veterans made the lawn in Turner a healing field in memory of all veterans. It was a very honorable thing to do. To call it a lawn of disgrace was appalling, to say the least. She shocked many veterans and their families. Those flags, all 2,600 of them, were all put up by volunteer veterans for Memorial Day at St. Peter's Cemetery. The flags are allowed there for only two weeks, then need to be removed. That is the cemetery's policy. We were told to remove them, so we donated those flags to someone who would do good by them. Taylor did not place those flags and they weren't her property. They were donated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I feel Taylor owes the Turner veteran an apology. He did not, by any means, steal a single flag. The flags were donated to him for a good cause. By the way, the flags are not given to the dead veterans. They are placed on the graves to commemorate Memorial Day.

Irene A. Pomerleau, widow of Korean Veteran "Robert Pomerleau", Lewiston
Arthur Paradis, American Legion, Sergeant at Arms, Post 22, Lewiston

John L. Jordan, Judge Advocate of Post 111 of Turner helps place American Flags on the front lawn of Post 111 Chaplain and 3rd District Public Relations Historian, Paul R. Bernard’s home on Lower Street.

Also helping with the project for the (4th July) Independence Day Celebration in Turner was Warren K. Clark, 1st Vice Commander of Post 111 and 3rd District Sergeant at Arms.

The three men are officers in the newly re-established American Legion, Turner Memorial Post #111. The Post 111 membership is enthusiastic about beginning its community activities this year, and the placing of the 911 Memorial Flags gets added to their list of contributions including the Memorial Day Parade in Lewiston/Auburn, a Memorial Service at the WW I & II Memorial Stone in Turner Village, participating in the disposal of unserviceable United States flags in the Lewiston Veterans Park on Flag Day, and marching in the Buckfield Parade & Independence Day Parade in Turner. That is Mr. Jordan’s prosthesis in the foreground. He injured his leg while working on a military vehicle during his service, but didn’t actually lose it until serious complications developed after his discharge. (Photo by Bill Van Tassel) (article by Country Connection, Turner Publishing Inc.)