Samantha Smith statue planned for Houlton
6/1/09 | 10 comments
memorial

Samantha Smith statue planned for Houlton


By Jen Lynds
BDN Staff

HOULTON, Maine — Over the years, Hammond artists Glenn and Diane Hines have created several statues that are on display throughout the state.

The Hineses created the Samantha Smith memorial at the State House in Augusta and the Gen. Joshua Chamberlain memorial in Brewer. They also sculpted a memorial honoring Vietnam War veterans at the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor.

Now, the couple is set to create another Smith statue that will be displayed in Houlton.

During a Town Council meeting last week, Glenn Hines told councilors that a number of people have expressed interest in having a Smith statue in Houlton.

Smith was born in Houlton but later moved to Manchester.

In December 1982, Smith, 10, penned a letter to former Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov asking him why the U.S. and the then-Soviet Union had such a difficult, tense relationship.

Andropov responded, assuring her that his nation wanted world peace.

At Andropov’s invitation, Smith visited the former Soviet Union and became a heroine. In August 1985, a plane carrying Smith and her father crashed, killing all six people aboard.

The Hineses created a bronze statue of Smith releasing a dove, with a bear cub at her feet, which stands in Augusta.

Glenn Hines told councilors that he has made a second casting of the 5-foot-2-inch statue that stands on a 16-inch-high base. He said that officials at Vital Pathways, a community health organization, intend to raise the $45,000 needed for the statue and give it to the town as a gift.

The town will not put any money into the acquisition of the statue.

Councilors were thrilled with the idea and agreed to take ownership of the statue.

The fundraising is set to begin immediately.

jlbdn@ainop.com

538-6567

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Comments
10 comments on this item
On 5/31/09 at 10:53 PM, lightningtrip wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

45 thousand dollarsfor a statue as a gift to the town...this is what is wrong with this country..one would rather be known for erecting a statue, than actually doing something for the community...good job to Vital Pathways for proving ignorance is bliss...

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On 5/31/09 at 11:14 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I can understand why the town would want to honor Samantha Smith in this way. She was a young ambassador of peace. I remember how sad it was when she and her father will killed in that crash. Her mother lost her husband and only child in that crash. It was so sad.

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On 6/1/09 at 7:00 AM, fkrebound wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Vital Pathways-a health organization? Why not raise money to help the children who go hungry everyday in Houlton instead.

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On 6/1/09 at 8:37 AM, daremom wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Just something else for the cops to have to watch so it won't get vandalized!

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On 6/1/09 at 11:50 AM, countyguy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Somebody wants to do something good and all you get is all these negative comments. There are so many negative people in this state it's sad. No wonder why we can't improve. All of your negativity spreads!

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On 6/1/09 at 5:19 PM, daremom wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Just stating the truth...COUNTYGUY..it's reality.Get with it.

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On 6/2/09 at 5:57 AM, wensdayschild123 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If you review Vital Pathways' mission, you will see that this purchase fits their scope. They money is donated by the public, no tax dollars are involved. Vital Pathways should be commended on brining culture into our lives. A statue of this remarkable young girl is fiiting, expecially now during times of hardship. The pedestrian bridge in Houlton was one of their projects. When first proposed, there were many people against it, including the leader of the town council, who fought it at every step, except when it came time to get his picture in the paper at the ribbon cutting, now we can all see what a well used structure and asset to the town it is. I'm sure the statue will lend itself to the same. Good work VP.

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On 6/2/09 at 4:38 PM, lightningtrip wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

obviously none of you are from Houlton...

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On 6/3/09 at 8:58 PM, treeplanter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

why was daremon voted down for her comments. I live near Houlton and what she says is quite true

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On 6/3/09 at 9:35 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

countyguy:

Amen!

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