Augusta, Maine - Today, First Lady Ann LePage, along with wood carver Andy Rice, of Bowdoin, presented a hand-carved eagle cane to Former US Army WWII Tech Sgt. Edmond G. Pare of Augusta. This token of appreciation for Mr. Pare's military service was given extra meaning, as today is also his 91st birthday. During the ceremony, Mr. Pare also received a certificate of recognition for his service from Brigadier General James Campbell, Maine's Adjutant General and Commissioner of the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management (DVEM).Mr. Pare's son, Peter Pare, is current director of Bureau of Employee Services for State of Maine and a Vietnam Veteran, and contacted the First Lady's office to request a cane for his father. Andy Rice of the Maine Woodcarvers Association was notified and the cane was prepared.
"These canes mean the world to veterans," said Mrs. LePage. "I am honored to be able to assist in the presentation and at the same time thank the veterans for their service. Each cane is personalized with their military history," she added.
Mr. Pare served with the Maine 103rd Infantry Regiment Company, a Maine Army National Guard Unit, that when mobilized in 1941 had 85 officers and 1,522 men. By the time they arrived in the Pacific it had grown to 2,600. Within nine months they lost 200 men, half of whom were from Maine.
"There aren't many people from my company alive," reflected Mr. Pare. "A few just recently passed away," he added.
Mr. Pare served in the Pacific on Guadalcanal, Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon PI and New Georgia during World War II. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.
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