Railroad economy
The old Maine Central Railroad was a lifeline to northern Maine. It hauled incoming supplies to paper mills and manufactured goods south to America’s markets. At one time they hauled passengers, and there was a depot in Lincoln. As our economy declined and people moved away, there was less and less traffic to support a railroad. It is no longer cost effective to haul freight by rail to Lincoln for the few cars of raw materials needed. Trucks have taken up that slight gap. Natural gas flows through unseen pipes to fuel the remaining boilers at the mill.
Shining rails used to be the hallmark of our dynamic economy. Now the legacy of our formerly dynamic manufacturing economy is rusty rails. The last train that came through Lincoln was around September 2014. The railroad has become a walking path. People no longer look both ways when crossing the tracks at West Broadway or Penobscot Avenue.
Rusty rails are an epitaph of our economy and the hallmark of the success of the environmental industry. They have driven industry out of Maine. The Kyoto Agreement on climate change may not have been ratified in the Senate, but Congress has implemented it piece by piece.
Roger Ek
Lee
Vietnam vets celebration
Words cannot truly express the thanks due to the Maine Troop Greeters for the welcome home Vietnam veterans celebration they sponsored at the Cross Insurance Center on June 14. Moving speeches acknowledged the sacrifices these young soldiers made at the request of our government and the shameful lack of appreciation, respect and honor they faced upon returning home.
Even after 50 years, it was not too late to hear these words of thanks and recognition. Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s and Sen. Angus King’s remarks were inspiring. The comments of retired Maj. Gen. John Libby were spot on, telling us all how it was then and how it is and should be now. Laurie Sidelinger sang our national anthem to perfection, and I was proud to see the Maine Honor Guard march with our flag colors held high.
I was so happy to see my husband stand with friends and comrades as they proudly acknowledged their branch of service and welcomed the cheers of the audience. Well done, Maine Troop Greeters. Well done, Vietnam veterans.
Martha Nickerson
Lamoine
Respect Maine’s tribes
On May 27, I attended the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare REACH Truth and Reconciliation Committee and learned about the systemic racism and cultural genocide perpetrated against the Wabanaki.
On May 26, I attended a rally at the State House to stand in support and acknowledge the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations as the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Tribes withdrew their representatives from what appears to be a toxic, patronizing and antagonistic environment at our State House.
On May 23, I joined others in the war canoe on the Penobscot River in support of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Penobscot jurisdiction over water quality of the river.
On May 21, I attended the Judiciary Committee hearing as state legislators deliberated tribal legislation. This was a disgrace to all Maine people who value and respect our good friends and neighbors — the indigenous people of this state. They are not, nor were they ever, municipalities of Maine.
I heard Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis say the tribes will be looking after the health of their people, the land and waters. This is more than I have ever heard from the current Maine government, and it is exactly the sentiment and golden standard to which we must hold our elected officials accountable.
I am a 12th generation Mainer and, like the federal government and many people around the world, I support and respect the Wabanaki sovereignty. I honor the treaties. I am willing to sit at the table and talk about putting land into Wabanaki governance.
Shri Verrill
Portland