[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HARRY HAFFORD

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Mr. Harry 
Hafford of Masardis, ME, as he retires his gavel as chair at the 
Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery. Harry is an extraordinary man, a 
passionate community leader, an honorable veteran, and a friend to me 
and my staff. Harry is special in so many ways and has quietly led 
countless efforts to improve the lives of others. Aroostook County and 
the entire State of Maine is a better place because of folks like Harry 
Hafford.
  Harry returned to his home town of Masardis, ME, to spend his 
retirement years quietly after a long career at General Motors, where 
he also served as a strong and steadfast union steward. This next 
chapter of Harry's life seemed ideal for some much deserved rest and 
relaxation, but that isn't who Harry is; instead he became an active 
member of his community, continuing to serve our State and its people. 
Harry went back to work serving others. Harry shared his lifelong love 
of the beautiful natural resources in Maine by advocating for more 
access to waterways and working with State and local officials to 
provide additional boat landings in Ashland, Masardis, and Oxbow in 
northern Aroostook County, including one that is named for him, so that 
the public would have more access to the beautiful Aroostook River and 
its native brook trout fisheries. He was a loyal member of the Ashland 
Rotary Club and earned a Paul Harris Fellow for his service above self. 
He is an active member of the Caribou American Legion, a moderator for 
town meetings, a lifetime member of AMVets, Ashland and Presque Isle 
Fish and Game Clubs, and Sportsman's Alliance of Maine.
  Harry's honorable service in the U.S. Army is something I am very 
appreciative of, but in addition, what is truly inspirational is the 
dedication Harry has shown to veterans for all of his adult life, 
especially in retirement. He was instrumental in creating and 
sustaining a veteran's surplus clothing organization to ensure that the 
needs of his fellow veterans were met. Perhaps his most notable and 
impressive work was as a founding member of the Northern Maine Veterans 
Cemetery Corporation, which developed the Maine Veterans Cemetery-
Caribou. I was proud to be Governor of Maine when this effort began and 
was pleased to sign the document creating the committee to determine 
the cemetery's viability. Had I known Harry then as well as I do now, I 
could have just looked for his name on the roster of volunteers and 
been immediately assured of 100 percent success. Harry has chaired that 
committee since its inception in 2003 and has decided to retire his 
gavel at the end of 2018.
  People like Harry are a rare breed. They give for the right reasons 
and ask nothing in return. The entire State of Maine has benefited from 
Harry's hard work for many years, and while we will miss him, we hope 
that he can finally enjoy retirement the way it should be.

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