SKOWHEGAN — Everybody was there Thursday evening for the Tribute to the Troops ceremony opening the Skowhegan State Fair, one service family member said.
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Everybody except the men and women who are currently serving overseas or, as in the case of Army Cpl. Andrew Hutchins, have died in the line of duty.
Representing Hutchins for Thursday’s tribute and accepting Gold Star banners and a necklace with a gold star on it was his wife, Heather Hutchins, 22, their 4-month old baby, Allyssa, and his mother, Robin Norwood.
Established nationally in 1917 during World War I, Gold Star banners are given to parents and spouses of service members killed during armed conflicts, Skowhegan Town Manager John Doucette Jr. told the assembly.
“Today we are here not only to honor the service members that gave their life for our country, but also to parents and spouses that gave their son and husband so that you may enjoy the freedom we now have,” Doucette said.
Andrew Hutchins, 20, of New Portland, was killed while on guard duty when insurgents struck with small-arms fire Nov. 8, 2010, at combat outpost Sabari, in Afghanistan.
The 2008 Carrabec High School graduate was a military policeman assigned to the Army’s 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
Heather Hutchins was pregnant with the couple’s only child when her husband was killed. Allyssa Hutchins was born in March.
“It feels good; it’s nice that they think of him, still,” Heather said after the ceremony. “It’s nice that people want to do this in honor to him and his family. I’m thankful that they had us come here.”
Blue Star banners also were are given Thursday evening to families with sons or daughters, husbands or wives who are actively serving in armed conflicts.
The banners, which were not popular during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, Doucette said, were reintroduced by the American Legion after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Tribute ceremonies opened Thursday evening with a U.S. Army National Guard rifle squad, a Legion Post 16 honor guard, a parade of American Legion Riders on motorcycles and the Dunlap Highland Band on bagpipes. The Rev. Mark Tanner of Skowhegan conducted the opening prayer.
During the singing of the national anthem by Sharon Buck of the B98.5 radio station, one of the night’s sponsors, five small airplanes flew over the fairgrounds in a V formation, east to west into the setting sun. The evening’s other sponsor was T&B’s Outback Tavern.
Doucette also conducted an enlistment ceremony for new inductees into the military. The Blue Star ceremonies were conducted by Ralph Withee, commander of the Madison Legion post and Steve Spaulding, commander of the Skowhegan post.
The evening ended with a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by the bagpipers, a 21-gun salute by the guard members and the playing of “Taps.”
Event organizer Denise Jones was honored with flowers presented to her by Spaulding.
A concert followed with music by Emerald Sky, Mark Knight and the band Bad Penny. Fireworks donated by Central Maine Pyrotechnics ended the night with a bang.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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