A few weeks ago, my wife and I toured the battlefield at Gettysburg with a licensed battlefield guide. He took special attention when we reached Little Round Top to point out the 20th Maine monument, as he knew we were from Maine.
I asked him if it had been recently cleaned, and he said yes, but did not know who did it, as the Park Service has a hard time keeping up with all the old monuments.
I related to him that a local Maine citizen had raised the funds to have it cleaned, as it was in deplorable condition. He said, “Oh, that’s what happened.”
The guides were not told how the restoration had happened, but he could not wait to get back to the reception center to tell his fellow guides what I had told him. He was truly excited and happy to learn how this had occurred. He mentioned that it was one of the best restorative cleanings he has seen.
My thanks to Clem Bechard for that wonderful act of public contribution to honor Maine soldiers from the Civil War. We should never forget their service to this great country.
David Johnson, Sweden
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