LEBANON — The call for help came and there were no questions asked.
About 30 men and women worked in the scorching heat, humidity and mud on the grounds of the Lebanon Municipal Building Monday to make the area presentable for Memorial Day.
The volunteers, many of whom also give their time to the town’s rescue department, raked and installed new turf at the 15 Guinea Road property.
It was a repeat of the work they’d done just one week before. But vandals struck overnight Saturday into Sunday, making a muddy mess of newly installed turf, cutting “doughnuts” in the adjacent parking lot and damaging the sidewalk. Sheriff’s deputies are investigating and Selectmen Robert Frizzell, Ronal Patch and Jason Cole are personally offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.
On Monday, determined to undo the damage that had been done, the volunteers set at it again.
It could be said that their volunteerism was the same kind of spirit that moved 174 men from this small town to defend the union 150 years ago when they left their families to fight in the Civil War.
The names of those men are etched in a new memorial made possible by the Lebanon Historical Society, who worked for a year and a half to make sure their sacrifice so long ago continues to be recognized. Of the 174 who left their homes to serve, 39 men never returned.
Historian Marjorie Blood had conferred with selectmen a couple of weeks ago on how to spruce up the area to mark the dedication ceremony for the Civil War memorial that will take place at 2 p.m. Monday along with Memorial Day ceremonies. Loam was trucked in and a Berwick firm, Tuckahoe Turf Farm, donated sod for the project. Volunteers installed it a week ago.
Then, as Blood left church Sunday morning, she decided to drive past the municipal building to have a look at what had been accomplished.
“I was dumbfounded,” she said of the destruction she saw.
Then, everyone scrambled.
Tuckahoe Turf Farm donated more sod and on Monday evening, volunteers got down to business.
“What happened was terrible,” said Frizzell, chairman of the board of selectmen, as the volunteers worked Monday. “What is happening now is wonderful. There’s been a lot of community spirit in this town in the last week.”
Frizzell said sometime this week, there will be a fence installed that will provide a buffer between the newly grassed-in lawn adjacent to the municipal building and the muddy parking lot, which will be paved.
It will all be ready for Memorial Day.
Among the volunteers were Lebanon Rescue members Scott and Annette Thibodeau.
Annette, muddy from her labors, said it was the right thing to do.
“We’re here to do the work and get it done for Memorial Day,” she said. “This is round two,” noting the volunteers’ earlier lawn installation. “It is great how the community is coming together.”
As the men and women worked and little children pitched in with child-sized plastic shovels and rakes, selectmen turned up the barbecue. Frizzell plunked burgers on the grill and Jason Cole, a selectman and assistant rescue chief, poured soda for the thirsty.
Scott Sheriff, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, said he had a day off and decided to lend a hand. His wife, Jenny Sheriff, is a rescue department volunteer, but couldn’t help this time because of work commitments.
“She said they needed help,” said Sheriff as he unrolled a length of turf. “I’m a veteran. They said they needed it done for Memorial Day. So, no questions asked.”
Historian Barbara Sewell said she enjoyed watching the volunteers and noted their hard work.
“There’s something pretty wonderful about this town,” she said.
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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