VFW post to enlarge memorial Members hope to include all Lincoln veterans

LINCOLN – Next month, members of the VFW Avon D. Flanders Post 1438 will kick off a campaign to raise $18,500 to expand the existing veterans’ monument, located in Veterans’ Memorial Square (formerly the Mini Mall) on Main Street.

VFW Commander Robert Mulligan said the project to enlarge the existing monument and to list the names of all Lincoln veterans from all wars since World War II is expected to be complete in time for Memorial Day next year.

Mulligan said the existing gray granite monument will be enlarged by adding two new black granite stones on each side. The two new stones are each 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

A painting of the newly expanded monument. done by Lincoln artist Paul Thibodeau, is on display at the Lincoln Wal-Mart store, he said.

“We are losing too many World War II vets right now,” said Mulligan. “It is important to memorialize them. Just having their names on granite at least shows that people remember and recognize them.”

The new larger monument would replace the old wooden veterans’ honor roll, located in front of the Town Office.

“It is time it was replaced with something permanent,” Mulligan said. “It is outdated. It is incomplete and does not list all Lincoln veterans and is very weather-beaten.”

The commander said members of the VFW plan to have the names of all Lincoln veterans who have served in the military from World War II through today, listed on the new granite stones.

He said each name would include a notation of whether the vet was killed in action, a prisoner of war, missing in action, or combat wounded.

Mulligan said the group was working with the Maine Archives. “It is hard to find these people because many have moved away,” he said.

He said VFW members are in the process of collecting names of veterans whose home of record was Lincoln and are asking the family, friends or relatives of veterans to contact them.

People with information may contact the following: Jim Vose or Norman Ware about World War II veterans; William Ulaskas about Korean veterans; Robert Mulligan or Errol Libby about Vietnam veterans; or contact Mulligan about veterans from any other war.

Mulligan said Post 1438 hopes to use money it receives beyond the cost of the project to establish a perpetual fund for the upkeep and maintenance of all veterans’ monuments in the town.

Members are in the process of setting up an account at the Lincoln Maine Federal Credit Union for people to donate to the “Lincoln Veterans’ Memorial.” Officials hope to open the new account by the middle of December.

VFW members plan to ask the Lincoln Town Council for a donation to the monument project during its meeting Dec. 9.

Town manager Glenn Aho said he supports the veteran’s memorial project. He said the veterans were an appropriate group to spearhead such a project and that they have put a lot of time into the project, with much more work ahead.

“I think it is our responsibility to make sure that the veterans memorials are brought and kept up to date periodically and not wait for such a long period of time between updates,” said Aho.

“Now we have taken a relatively small project and turned it into a large one. If we are able to harness the ambition of the veterans at this point for a May unveiling, then I think we should join their efforts and share their ambition.”

Ellsworth Smith, a post spokesman, said the group will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Room 121 at the Lincoln High School.

Mulligan said the purpose of the meeting was to display the painting of the enlarged monument and to generate public support for the project.