Biddeford Public Works and AMVETS Post 1 became a “fast response” team to meet an emergent need; install a flagpole in time for the Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day parade ceremony.

Sometime Oct. 22, Biddeford’s Veterans Memorial Park was assaulted by vandals. The flagpole with the POW/MIA flag was broken off at ground level and the flag taken.

On 24 October, Nick Blais of Biddeford Public Works contacted AMVETS Post 1 stating they had retrieved a broken flagpole from the Veterans’ Park and wanted to help install a replacement flagpole.

After a brief meeting, AMVETS Post 1 was on board with procuring a new flagpole. By Oct. 25, that flagpole was purchased and transported to Biddeford. Public Works did some preparation site work on Oct. 27 and by the morning of Oct. 28, the “Flagpole Replacement Team” was on site and began work.

It wasn’t an “Iwo Jima” moment, but none-the-less it was effective as a new flagpole was set in place by Public Works employees Jamie Hauck and Keldon Seavey as well as AMVETS members Lionel Lamontagne and Mike Daigle.

In less than six days, a replacement flagpole was procured, site work completed, and the new flagpole and POW/MIA flag were in place. The Public Works and Veterans Fast Response Team members included Public Works employees Keldon Seavey, Nick Blais and Jamie Hauck; AMVETS members Gene Foster, Mike Daigle, and Lionel Lamontagne; and photographer Sandy Foster, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary.