Dear Editor:

Since the late 1800s, five generations of my family have returned to Southport Island. Through good times, World Wars, or the Great Recession, Southport has rejuvenated and nurtured our souls. The ocean and our experiences around Southport have forged indelible bonds, shaping our values as they shaped those of our ancestors long-ago buried in Spruce Lawn Cemetery or scattered as ashes around Boothbay Harbor.

This year we were fortunate to share Southport with friends and their children who had never been to Maine. From the rocks of our oceanfront cottage in Newagen we pointed out the lighthouses up the coast, and gazed at the beautifully restored Cuckolds Light Station. Now in my sixth decade, I took pleasure in sharing these experiences knowing that each new memory instills respect for America’s maritime heritage to the next generation.

I want to acknowledge and commend all those who gave freely of their time and worked tirelessly to return the Cuckolds Light Station to its former glory. Their creativity, generosity and devotion have transformed the Cuckolds Light Station into a self-sustaining icon that will enable future generations to understand and appreciate Maine’s great maritime traditions.

Ken Monroe
Washington, D.C.