Monday, July 16, 2007
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Staff photo by Jim Evansfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Storefront windows bearing Dore's name in red, white and blue paper cutout letters shuddered with the bass rhythm of chugging engines as a mile-long column of motorcycles and cars escorted him to the end of his trip back from Baghdad.
For a moment, the crowds were awash in the overpowering rumble as the motorcade rolled into town and dispersed. Then the slate-gray hearse turned off toward the funeral home and the last cyclist switched off his machine.
The dreary day's silence was broken only by rain falling in the street and people crying on the sidewalks.
A gaggle of motorcyclists, members of the Patriot Guard Riders, gathered on a sidewalk, talking in hushed tones among themselves.
"We feel that these guys coming home should be thanked," Randy Scott, a rider from Union, said. "A lot of us served in Vietnam, and we weren't well- received. That doesn't need to happen again."
It seemed that the entire town of 1,000 had known Dore, and had turned out to join his family in grieving his death. Inside Valley View Market general store, past which most of the procession had passed, store owner Bill MacDonald looked on with sadness.
"I've had this store 18 years; I watched him grow up," he said. "He was just an ordinary kid. He grew up right here, just like we all did."
MacDonald said that Dore's death hit the town with an impact that has been unmatched since another of its sons, Kenneth Belanger, died 40 years ago in Vietnam.
Dore died July 8 when a roadside bomb exploded near the 25-year-old. Surviving Dore are his mother, Gail, his 15-year-old brother, Logan, his father, Jody, and his fiancˇe, Sophie Belanger.
None of them was available for comment, according to Dore's uncle, Brian Cates.
"I've got them all behind closed doors," he said. "They are trying to prepare for the funeral Tuesday. That will be their biggest hurdle."
Cates was standing in the American Legion Hall up the road as motorcyclists drip-dried on the tile floors and warmed up around Styrofoam cups of coffee. Most of them had ridden up from Augusta State Airport, where Dore's body had been flown in earlier in morning.
Vehicles stopped on both sides of U.S. Route 201, and their occupants climbed out and saluted, waved or occasionally just sobbed in the rain as the motorcade crept north. Children from Skowhegan to Bingham left their houses to wave soggy American flags or hold up banners in honor of U.S. troops.
"It was a very, very emotional day," Cates said. "We had a real hero come home."
Joel Elliott -- 861-9252
jelliott@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
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You are in our thoughts, and prayers.
report abuse
For once, why don't you take your comments and stifle them, just once?
As it happens, Jason is my cousin. I do not speak for his family here, I speak for myself:
take your insipid commentary elsewhere for a change.report abuse
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