Eagle Scout establishes memorial for veterans

ORRINGTON – Nearly 800 Orrington veterans, from the Civil War to the Vietnam War have been honored by an Eagle Scout who built a veterans memorial for his Eagle project.

Chip Haskell, 18, of Orrington received the Boy Scout Eagle Award Nov. 3 at a ceremony attended by nearly 100 friends and relatives.

Bob Vachon of the American Legion’s James W. Williams Post 12 presented Haskell with a plaque expressing gratitude for his dedication to, and support for, local veterans. Haskell designed, built and erected a veterans memorial in front of Orrington Town Hall on Center Drive.

Haskell joined Boy Scout Troop 44 in 1997. When he was seeking ideas for an Eagle Scout project, his grandmother, Barbara Haskell, suggested that the town of Orrington should have a war veterans honor roll. Haskell tackled the project and organized a spaghetti supper, which raised $1,700 for the project. Bottle drives and donations raised an additional $2,300.

David Swett of Orrington assisted Haskell by providing published and unpublished lists of veterans. More than 15 area businesses and individuals provided materials for the memorial.

Last winter, Haskell and his fellow Boy Scouts attached name plates to the memorial. The foundation for the memorial was poured in May and the monument, complete with granite pillars and base, was erected with the help of Haskell’s Boy Scout troop June 21.

Haskell, a senior at Brewer High School, is the son of Andrea and Charlie Haskell of Orrington and the grandson of Barbara Haskell of Orrington and Raynald and Jennie Martin of Bangor.