Spirit alive and well

A few days ago I watched the Machias Memorial High School soccer team win the Eastern Maine Class D Championship. I witnessed leadership, sportsmanship, talent and determination from that team and Coach Sinford, as well as from the spectators who had the field surrounded by their cars at 9 a.m.

On Monday, I watched some of those same team members, as well as the entire student bodies of the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School and Machias Memorial High School, honor the veterans of our area, many of whom attended and graduated from the same school. Once again I saw leadership from our Principals Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Look, and talent from our band and chorus that brought the veterans and others at the ceremony to their feet on several occasions. I witnessed respect from our students for the veterans, whom they had obviously worked hard to honor with their music and poetry.

These events reminded me once again why Superintendent Porter and the Machias School Committee, of which I am a member, have worked so long and so hard to save our schools. I wish that some of our elected and appointed officials had heard about it. It’s called hometown pride and keeping our schools the heart of our small community.

Betty E. Beal

Machias