[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING JOHN T. NOBLE TRUCKING

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, later this month, we will pause to 
commemorate those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice 
to defend our Nation and the freedoms we enjoy. On Memorial Day, 
families of our fallen members of the Armed Forces visit the graves of 
their loved ones throughout our Nation, often at veteran's cemeteries, 
to remember our fallen heroes. I rise today with tremendous gratitude 
to recognize the generosity of two Mainers, John and Joyce Noble, and 
their business, John T. Noble Trucking, for their dedicated efforts in 
supporting the creation of the Northern Maine Veteran's Cemetery as a 
place of rest for thousands of Maine's bravest.
  John T. Noble Trucking, a thriving business since 1957, is located in 
the Aroostook county city of Caribou. A multifaceted company, Noble 
Trucking provides its customers with a wide variety of services, 
including landscaping services, commercial deliveries of fuel products 
as well as truck maintenance, welding, painting, and body repair.
  Mr. and Mrs. Noble are well known in the Caribou community for their 
philanthropic initiatives. The Nobles have donated to countless causes 
within their community, and in characteristic Aroostook County fashion, 
have made many of these donations on the condition of anonymity. 
Organizations like the Caribou Recreation Department, the Northern 
Maine Fairgrounds, Cary Medical Center, The Christopher Home and the 
Caribou Historical Society are just a few of the many grateful County 
charities that have benefitted immensely from the Nobles' friendship 
and contributions. Perhaps their most notable work has been their 
advocacy and determination on behalf of the Northern Maine Veteran's 
Cemetery in Caribou.
  The idea for Maine's northernmost veterans cemetery was first 
proposed in 1998. After serious study that found overwhelming support 
among the community, the initial approval was given by the governor in 
February 1999. In the spring of that year, the Northern Maine Veterans 
Commemorative Cemetery Corporation was formed to oversee all aspects of 
the cemetery's development.
  John Noble, an honorably discharged veteran himself and his wife 
Joyce, who also admirably supported her husband's service to our 
country with stalwart dedication, certainly felt a particular kinship 
to the development of an appropriate resting place for our national 
heroes. In order to ensure that the dream of so many veterans became a 
reality, John and Joyce Noble stepped forward to offer 33.4 acres of 
their own land for use by the Corporation. Their heartfelt contribution 
expedited the plans for the Northern Maine Veteran's Cemetery and the 
seeds of charitable giving had taken root, facilitating a grassroots 
effort that culminated in what is today a regal and honored resting 
place for our most deserving men and women who served this country with 
honor and distinction.
  The Nobles' ongoing efforts inspired a can-do spirit that sparked a 
dedicated group of volunteers into determined action. With the cemetery 
facing a delay in state funding, the Nobles offered to help with the 
construction and maintenance of the cemetery's lands until the funds 
became available. Additionally, the Nobles helped make the cemetery 
more private and solemn by planting trees around its perimeter. When 
the cemetery was finally dedicated on June 1, 2003, the Nobles had left 
a substantial mark on this sacred place and continue to support it 
today.
  An extraordinarily modest couple, John and Joyce Noble have made 
significant contributions to the appearance and well-being of Caribou. 
Their beautiful gesture of kindness resulted in a respectable final 
resting place for those who gave our Nation the fullest measure of 
commitment. It is their selfless spirit and magnanimous nature that 
have made them stand out in the Caribou community for years. I thank 
Mr. and Mrs. Noble for their incredible generosity, and wish them and 
their company, John T. Noble Trucking, much success for years to 
come.

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