Flooding from the historic storm that struck Maine last week may have done serious damage to Lewiston’s Veterans Memorial Park, but Jerry DeWitt is on the case.

DeWitt, who chairs the Lewiston and Auburn Veterans Council, was there when the park’s first stone was laid back in 1998. He assured the public that the overflowing Androscoggin River did not ruin the park last week, and he vowed any damage that has been done can – and will – be fixed.

“Come Hell or high water, this place is going to be rebuilt,” he said.

Once the waters receded, DeWitt was already hard at work assessing the damage. In some cases, he said, the damage was minimal. Many stones bearing the names of Lewiston residents who gave their lives in armed conflict remained untouched. Several had been knocked over, he said, but they have since been righted and remain as they once were.

“Thank God they weren’t broken,” he said.

Large memorials, including a tank, jeep, cannon and airplane, DeWitt said, were equally unscathed. Smaller memorials weren’t so lucky. A stone memorial to the Vietnam War had been broken. Of a series of benches paid for by the families of war veterans who died in service, six were broken, and DeWitt said a few more may be missing.

Also missing is another memorial, in the shape of a casket, last seen in a photo posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, floating down the Androscoggin River. DeWitt stressed that the casket did not contain a body, but objects that were almost as precious. Local veterans, he said, donated items such as hats, dog tags and other memorabilia to be sealed in the casket during a dedication ceremony in 2007, the year the traveling Vietnam memorial came to Lewiston.

“It’s a time capsule, is what it is, shaped like a casket,” he said.

In all, DeWitt said, the memorials will cost an estimated $20,000 to repair or replace. When asked if the council could afford the cost, he laughed and said, “We have a savings account, but that’s not gonna cut it.”

Already, however, DeWitt said the public has been reaching out with donations to help. One man, he said, came up to him Tuesday morning while he was at the park and handed him a check for $1,000. DeWitt said he is confident the council can raise the funds necessary to complete the repairs. 

Anyone wishing to donate to the repair efforts may send contributions to: L/A Veterans Council, PO Box 2316 Lewiston, ME 04241.