Friday, January 19, 2007
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Staff photo by Joe Phelan
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Staff photo by Joe Phelan
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Staff photo by Joe PhelanLynn Poulin, 47, a National Guard staff sergeant, died Dec. 21, 2004. He was killed by an explosion in his battalion's mess hall in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. One of the last things he sent his mother was a small Iraqi bell on a necklace, something she said she will treasure, along with two medals she received at a Statehouse ceremony in the Hall of Flags.
"I'm shaking," the 77-year-old grandmother from Freedom said. "But I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Lynn did his duty. That's what he wanted to do."
She paused.
"He was always right there for you."
She couldn't go on.
She walked forward and received a shining gold medal for her son's ultimate sacrifice, and a silver medal for her son's wounds.
Gov. John Baldacci touched her arm and told the somber crowd assembled in the hall, "The state needs to recognize these families and the sacrifices they made. I know it is a strain for all of you here, but it allows us to be part of your extended family -- we do stand with you. God bless you."
Therese Poulin said she has been dealing with depression in the two years since Lynn Poulin's death. "I lost my son and it hurts me," she said.
He attended schools in Unity and Thorndike. His widow, Jeanne Poulin, lives in Winslow with their four children.
Lynn Poulin was one of 14 veterans honored with the medals. Others included Marine Maj. Jay Aubin of Waterville, who died March 21, 2003; Maine Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Michael Jones of Unity, who died March 3, 2005; and Army Sgt. Kristofer Ciraso of Bangor, who died Dec. 7, 2006.
Reading the names was Peter Ogden, director of veterans services for the state and a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He served in the Maine National Guard with Lynn Poulin, and with Maine's Adjutant Gen. John Libby, commissioner of defense and veterans services.
Ogden said it's the second time the state has honored Maine's dead from what he called the global war on terror, and he hopes to catch up to the point where families don't have to wait years for recognition. He still recalls a painful post-Vietnam era when recognition for soldiers and their loved ones was slow in coming. Ogden still has a bullet-holed Maine flag sent to him in Vietnam by then-Gov. Kenneth Curtis. He said it inspired him to continue in public service.
Libby, who like Ogden is a veteran of the Vietnam War, said, "This is a difficult day for all of us. But it's important for us to recognize the sacrifice."
Not all families of the deceased wanted to be involved in the public event. Ogden has scheduled private ceremonies with the governor for those requesting one. Ogden first came up with the idea for the medals, and Baldacci backed it with a $20,000 grant.
Time heals some of the pain of loss, said Nancy Cunningham of Lewiston, whose son Daniel, an Army soldier, died in what was said to be a vehicular accident on April 4, 2003.
"I'm getting used to it," Cunningham said with a sigh. "It gets easier. I do the tears in private now. It helps just knowing that people are there when you need them."
Before Therese Poulin headed home to Freedom, she hugged Ogden and said how good he had been to the families of veterans. She smiled, holding back tears. "I miss my son." She said she would tell him, "Ecoute ce que je te dis. Je t'aime juste pourquoi." (Listen to what I tell you. I love you just because.)
Steve Cartwright -- 623-3811, Ext. 435
scartwright@centralmaine.com
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