Community pays tribute to veterans with seventh annual service
Wotstak First Nation leaders, elders, community members and representatives from neighbouring communities and organizations gathered along the shores of the Wolastoq on Nov. 8 to pay tribute to those who served in uniform.
Chief/Sakum Tim Paul, First Nation elders, and event organizers welcomed Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones, Woodstock-Carleton MLA Bill Hogan, Tobique-Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon, area police officers and representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion and ANAVETs to the sombre ceremony along the grounds of the community’s war monument.
Following the Remembrance ceremony, residents and guests gathered for a meal and social interaction at the community hall.
Wotstak First Nation Vietnam War veteran Roger Polchies accepted the Quilt of Valor courtesy of the Quilts of Valor Foundation of Maine.
The foundation’s mission “is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
Poliches served in the United States Army 27th Infantry Wolfhounds in Vietnam between 1966 and 1969.
Christine Corey of Houlton, Maine, made and presented the quilt.