May 29, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of “Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices.” In the 11th interview of the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, Senator King sat down with Harry Hafford of Masardis, an Air Force and Army veteran and former Chairman of the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery (NMVC) who worked to establish a site in Caribou. During the interview, King and Hafford discussed the economic opportunities of the Armed Forces, how Maine communities come together to serve veterans, and the meaning of Memorial Day.
“Harry Hafford has dedicated his entire life to selflessly serving our country and honoring the sacrifices of our servicemembers,” said Senator King. “The state and nation are forever indebted to Harry for his time in our Armed Forces and for his twenty years of unmatched work on behalf of Maine veterans. Thousands of Maine families have been able to lay their loved ones to rest at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery thanks to his County work ethic, unmatched patriotism, and belief in America’s promise to those who served. It was an honor to talk with Harry about his service and the importance of remembering those who sacrificed for our freedom for this Memorial Day Special of ‘Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices’.”
Harry Hafford grew up in Masardis, Maine with seven siblings. Coming from a family he describes as “dirt poor,” Harry left school and joined the Air Force in 1957 at the age of 17 as a “matter of survival.” Harry’s first deployment was at Ladd Airforce Base in Fairbanks, Alaska where he worked on the flight line as a truck driver and airplane refueler for two and a half years. At the end of his contract, Harry decided to enlisted in the Army instead of reenlisting in the Air Force. He then went back to school for administration and was sent to back to Fairbanks where he worked in supply and special services. After leaving the military, Harry got a job at General Motors in Connecticut where he worked for over thirty years.
After retiring, Harry moved back to Maine and decided to get involved with the veterans community. The first thing he did was an outreach program with the Caribou Veterans Center to give surplus clothing to veterans. Within five years, his campaign applied for, and received, about $8.5 million worth of surplus clothing for Aroostook county veterans. With no veterans cemeteries north of Augusta, Harry and his veteran colleagues decided that they wanted to establish one in Aroostook County: the NMVC. Over the next 20 years, Harry served as Chairman as the Cemetery – finding a plot of land, securing funding and support, and continually improving the site. Harry says his time as Chairman was the most satisfying job he has ever had.
The Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other members of Congress who’ve participated in the project.
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has worked to properly honor and recognize the sacrifices of Purple Heart medal recipients, protect veterans from fraud, and expand veteran assisted living services.
