Post 54 remembers service members, Clara Wentworth; praises youth
Faye Shea, left, and Ann Scanlan. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Cliff Hendricks, Bruce Poland and Mike Barnes. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Tom Stoner plays “Taps.” SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Ed Polewarczyk, left, and Ben Rines Jr. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Patty Bridgham. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
James Quinnam. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Attendees gather before the ceremony. Foreground, inscriptions on a bench at the veterans wall. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Cliff Hendricks, Bruce Poland, Mike Barnes and Tom Stoner. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Faye Shea, left, and Ann Scanlan. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Cliff Hendricks, Bruce Poland and Mike Barnes. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Tom Stoner plays “Taps.” SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Ed Polewarczyk, left, and Ben Rines Jr. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Patty Bridgham. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
James Quinnam. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Attendees gather before the ceremony. Foreground, inscriptions on a bench at the veterans wall. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Cliff Hendricks, Bruce Poland, Mike Barnes and Tom Stoner. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Years ago, when Faye Shea wanted help with her “Saving Our Stars” project, she asked herself, “Who’s the most patriotic woman I know,” Shea recalled in the sun at the veterans wall in Wiscasset Monday morning, prior to American Legion Post 54’s Memorial Day ceremony. The answer was Clara Wentworth. “And I asked her to help me. ‘Sure,’ she goes.”
The “Stars” project gives away the stars from worn American flags. With the patch comes a message that reads in part: “Please carry me as a reminder that you are not forgotten.” Besides her work on that project, Wentworth was a longtime part of Post 54’s Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies, through last Veterans Day. She always laid a Daughters of American Revolution wreath at the wall.
Wentworth died Feb. 9 at 95. Faye Shea was giving out poppies and the white stars Monday, and will continue the tradition. Diane Munsey laid the DAR wreath. Post Cmdr. William Cossette Jr. said it was being laid in Wentworth’s memory. And he had the moment of silence – honoring those who served and have died – also honor Wentworth.
Wentworth’s late husband Joseph Wentworth served in the Army’s 60th Infantry in the European Theater in World War II, according to Wiscasset Newspaper files.
In other remarks, Cossette shared with attendees the Post’s recent experience with 13 Wiscasset Middle High School students helping clean up a cemetery. When one boy was unsure how to use a shovel, “This young lady says ‘Let me have that shovel,’ and she showed him how to fill a wheelbarrow,” Cossette said, drawing the crowd’s laughter and praise. Applause came when Cossette said the students then stayed and placed 400 flags.
“They did one heck of a job,” with guidance from Post member and Army veteran Mike Barnes, Cossette said. “And it kind of reminded us there are a lot of good kids out there. It worked out wonderful (and) it made us feel really good.”
Cossette had more good news. He pointed out the wear on the brick walk in front of the wall. The walk will be fixed and will extend all the way around the wall, so the names on the other side will not be thought of as being on the back of the wall, he said.
He also noted the morning had none of the rain or cold wind common at the two annual ceremonies.
