Monday, July 16, 2007
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Staff photo by Jim Evansfrom the Kennebec Journal
Sport of Kings
New Medicaid billing system inspires doubts among some
Christmas spirit
Guidance counselor: Dismiss complaint based on criticism of same-sex marriage
CHELSEA: 'Practice burn' provides thrill for 9-year-old
Trust eyes orchard purchase
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bonenfant rises up Cony ranks
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
YES ON 1 BACKER REBUTS CLAIM
New system for Medicaid payments worries providers
After petition drive, Clinton police force budget will go a third time before voters
A rock musician makes trip home via Black Taxi
MADISON: After revaluation, abatement requests reviewed
Parks to have facelift
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Sweet does job for Madison
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
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.
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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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