FREE e-scribe now!

This week’s edition!

Vietnam vet’s name added to Memorial Stone

Richard B. Caron and his three brothers will be remembered for their military service, but Caron wanted recognition for his brother-in-law, too.

The names of Caron and his brothers are engraved in stone forever, but Roger J. Dumond’s name was missing. The brother of Caron’s wife, Juanita “June” Dumond Caron, he was killed in Vietnam in 1969.

After Caron joined forces with the William J. Rogers Post 153 of the American Legion, Dumond’s name will now be listed on the 23rd Veterans Memorial Stone at Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston. The stone will be unveiled on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

Caron had met Public Relations Officer Paul R. Bernard of the American Legion, William J. Rogers Post 153, back in December of 2011. Since then, Bernard has signed Caron up as a member of the post and has worked with Caron to remember and recognize his wife’s brother.

Roger Dumond was born and raised in Lewiston and graduated from Lewiston High School. Dumond had tried to enlist in the military, but was designated 4F due to one leg being shorter than the other. Dumond then moved to Chicopee, Mass., looking for work, where he married his wife Judy and started a little restaurant business. At the outbreak of the Vietnam War, he was drafted and was assigned with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.

On March 28, 1969, Dumond was killed in the southeastern province of Binh Du’o’ng, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. A casualty report was sent to Mrs. Judy A. Dumond after her husband’s death.

Caron is excited to know that at the unveiling ceremony of the 23rd Veterans Memorial Stone at the Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, May 28, his brother-in-law will be listed on that stone.

This will bring the amount of names on the stones to 4,757, said Bernard, who also served as chairman of the L&A Veterans Council Inc. That doesn’t include names on memorial benches, “In honor of” pavers or the WWI Victoria Stone, Bernard noted.

There will be two more stones to unveil, and then the design will be complete. “We will unveil a 24th stone in November on Veterans Day, and then the following Memorial Day, 2013, will be the 25th Veterans Memorial Stone,” Bernard said. He also stated that if anyone is interested in honoring a family member or friend that was honorably discharged, there is only space for 432 names to be added.

Moe Dutil of the L&A Veterans Council stated that they have already received five applications, leaving only 427 spaces.

This is an excellent way to remember a love one. But you must call for an application now, as the spaces will fill up quickly, Bernard said. To have your loved ones name placed on the last two Veterans Memorial Stones, call Moe Dutil at 784-1206.

Bernard also stated that his work with Roger J. Dumond isn’t over. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Stones on the Lewiston and Auburn side of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge has the names of all the boys from L-A who were killed in Vietnam. But Roger Dumond’s name is not listed. “This is something I will have to work out with the Maine Department of Transportation,” Bernard said.

Any Vietnam veteran interested in helping on this project can contact Paul R. Bernard, Public Relations Officer, at 225-3990.

 

 

Leave a Reply


Contact Us!

89 Union Street, Suite 1014
Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 795-5017
info@twincitytimes.com