LEWISTON, Maine — The Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston sits on the Androscoggin River. Back in December 2023, a winter storm caused the park to flood causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
"That December storm came in hard with rain and wind," Lewiston Public Works Director Kevin Gagne said.
Gagne said the damage to the park didn't happen right away.
"Initially, we had power outages but the river rose a day later and washed out this park," he explained. "We lost 3 or 4 feet of topsoil and washed monuments downriver."
In the aftermath, the community rallied to rebuild.
"We had volunteers from all over New England as well as this area for a one-day workshop that we had big equipment here moving stuff around," L&A Veterans Council chair Jerry Dewitt said. "Cote Crane donated their time and lifted the navel deck gun that weighed about 53,000 pounds I believe, and then we also lifted the jeep out of the hole in the ground."
With the help of FEMA funds and donations, some of the expensive and extensive repair work began.
"We saved at least 10 or 15 benches and other monuments at that time, we still have five that are in the shop being rebuilt," Dewitt said. "Some of them were broken so badly they had to be replaced."
Even though repair efforts are underway, some things can't be replaced.
"We had a time capsule that went down the river that we're still looking for," Dewitt shared. "Stuff that was in that capsule was irreplaceable, it was put here by Vietnam veterans and people at the time."
Dewitt said there is a reward for any who finds the time capsule and returns it.
While repairs are underway, the hope is to return the park to its former glory.
"It looks similar at the moment, but we hope to have it back to where it was before," Dewitt added.
Gagne said the park is a focal point in the community and recognized those who put their lives on the line.
"Recognize our veterans and the importance to build it back to the way it was, to really honor the veterans and the ones that lost their lives," Gagne said.
The goal is to have Veterans Memorial Park ready by the 4th of July for a ceremony honoring veterans.
If you would like to donate to the L&A Veterans Council, donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 2316 in Lewiston.