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It’s an honor and a privilege to be here
today as part of this historic ceremony.
Lighthouses, wow, who can’t help but to
love lighthouses.
Maine’s
lighthouses and most of our nation’s historic lighthouses are located in
beautiful locations, but very few can compare with the unique and beautiful
setting of West Quoddy Head Light.
Did you know that the three most requested
questions for information from people at the Maine Tourism offices are what
they call the three L’s? Lobsters, L. L. Bean, and Lighthouses. And why
not, for the most part, lighthouses are located in beautiful locations.
While visiting
Maine’s
lighthouses people travel along
Maine’s
beautiful coastline, thorough quaint villages, while stopping at gift shops,
restaurants and stay in our state’s motels and great B & B’s. All of this
creates tourism dollars for not only the entire state, but also the
communities that the lighthouses are located in.
But, lighthouses are more than just
beauty.
Lighthouses are historic.
Lighthouses are about people, the people,
who while living at lighthouses, helped make our nation the great country
that it is today. In fact, one can learn more about early American history
by studying lighthouses than from any other single source.
For example did you know that Stephen
Pleasonton, the man who was in charge of our nations lighthouses for 32
years is also the same man who saved the Declaration of Independence, the U.
S. Constitution and the original papers of George Washington from being
destroyed?
Did you know, that a man who built some of
our lighthouses, missed becoming president of the
United
States by a manner of hours?
Because
Maine
has the largest concentration of historic lighthouses, here in Maine, we
have more stories of folklore, romance, hardship and heroism associated with
our lighthouses than any other state in the nation.
But, none of these amazing historic events
and stories is being taught in our schools today, something that we at the
American Lighthouse Foundation are working to change.
But we need your help to do so.
There will never again be lighthouse
keepers as there were in the days of the United States Lighthouse Service
that was dissolved in 1939 or as in the early days of the U. S. Coast
Guard. As the descendants of the keepers of yesteryear die off and the
modern day keepers pass into the pages of time, more and more memories will
be lost forever, as well as the photographs associated with their lives.
This must not be allowed to happen. We must all work together to save this
part of our nation’s history for future generations.
After all, future generations will judge
us by not want we have built, but, by what we have saved. In fact, if it
were not for the foresight of some, this marker could have stated, “This is
the eastern most point of land, where a lighthouse once stood.” Fortunately,
for all us, this is not the case.
While West Quoddy Light and other popular
lighthouses have been saved by volunteers as popular tourist attractions,
many more of
Maine’s historic lighthouses are in
imminent danger of being lost forever. It will again take people, and in
most cases dedicated volunteers to save the rest of our state’s lighthouses.
It will also take people, again people who are volunteers; to save the
history. However, it will also take money, money that will need to come
from donations and grants, as well as state and federal funding to continue
what is being done today by a handful of volunteers.
As I stand here today and look at West
Quoddy Light, I’m reminded more than ever of a phrase coined by Ken Black,
Maine’s very own, “Mr. Lighthouse” when he said, “Lighthouses are like
people, they come in many different sizes, shapes and colors.” And while
that is true, none are as colorful than the red and white striped West
Quoddy Head Light.
In fact, because, West Quoddy Head Light
is different, and because of its unique location, it has an advantage over
some of our states other lighthouses that are located on remote islands or
out in the ocean surrounded by water. These other lighthouses, in many cases
do not have a local community to step forward to save them and a plaque or
marker cannot be placed at them. Yet those lighthouses must also be saved
for future generations.
West Quoddy Head Light is one of the most
recognizable lighthouses in
Maine
and even in the world. It has appeared on a U. S. Postage Stamp, and on
countless magazine covers and numerous paintings. This has given it an
advantage. However, even with this advantage, this historic lighthouse
would not have been saved and opened to the public with its great museum and
interpretative center if it had not been for the dedicated people in this
community who came forward, people who were willing to work hard and never
lose sight of the light at the beginning of America’s day.
In my position as president of the
American Lighthouse Foundation, I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over
the country and speak at literally several hundred lighthouse events to
audiences from less than a hundred people to as large as 3,500 people.
However, each event is entirely different
and each event leaves one with a different experience and this event is more
than just another event. This is history in the making and you are here to
witness this historic dedication.
Through the foresight of today’s modern
keepers, such as the volunteers of the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers
Association, who have taken the initiative with this monument to mark this
spot as the eastern most point of land, where
America
starts each and every day is historic in another way. This marker will
directly help to insure the future care of this historic lighthouse into the
future.
Remember this day. It is a day that you
can share with children and grandchildren. It’s a memory that will stay with
you forever.
However, when you leave here today, also,
remember and thank in your thoughts, the keeper’s of yesteryear that lived
at this historic location and dedicated their lives to it. Also, remember
and thank the modern day keepers, the people who helped make a difference
restoring the keeper’s house and opening it to the public and by placing
this monument and marker here. Because it is people who make a difference,
just as you too, can help make a difference in helping to save our historic
lighthouses.
But, today’s special thanks go to those
that worked to make this marker a reality.
To read more about the ceremony...Click
Here
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