Seven veterans were recognized on Friday, March 27 at Hodgdon Green in Damariscotta.

Activities Coordinator and CRMA Amylynn Balsdon of Boothbay, who has worked in the ElderCare network of Lincoln County since 2009, heard about the Eagle Cane project through her mother-in-law, Ruth Balsdon.

“She was telling me how she wanted to get one for my father-in-law, Charles Balsdon, who served 21 years in the Coast Guard,” Amylynn Balsdon said.

The Eagle Cane project in Maine is run by George and Donna Gunning of Winslow. Since 2008 they have been making hand-carved canes with an eagle's head to recognize Maine veterans who have served the Unites States. They have had help from friend and veteran Bert Truman, an expert in wood-turning.

For each cane, the veteran’s name is in etched and then burned in the wood, and metal pieces are attached, including a flag, insignia of service, and honors the veteran has received. Each cane is made by hand and is free of charge, though donations are accepted.

Balsdon researched the project, and got an idea. She knew several of the residents at Hodgdon Green where she works had to be veterans, so she grabbed a notebook and started going to each resident’s room. She asked if they were a veteran, and if so, if they could tell her a little bit about their experiences.

Several asked her what she was doing, to which she replied that she was “just curious.”

Balsdon was more than curious.

She found three veterans at Hodgdon Green, and two more at Edgecomb Green. Along with her father-in-law and the father of Resident Care Director Angela Eastman, she identified seven veterans she wished to honor.

She contacted the Gunnings and explained what she was looking to do. They were more than happy to help, and fashioned a total of seven canes. Originally they were planning on stopping once they had made 1,000 canes. As of 2014, the number was 1,800 and still climbing.

Residents of Hodgdon Green (and two from Edgecomb) and their families were invited to a special lunch on March 27. None of them had any clue why they were there until Balsdon started to speak about the project. She presented each veteran a cane and a certificate of appreciation for their service.

Those honored included Marshall Spaulding, Donald Terwilliger, James Craig, Maurice Foye, Thomas Allen (who was unable to attend due to being in the hospital), Charles Balsdon and Archie Brewer. Brewer is the father of Eastman.

Balsdon talked briefly about the service each of the veterans had provided to their country. Just some of the things she mentioned were that Spaulding and Craig were both in the Navy during World War II, Terwilliger had three near misses on his life, and Foye was in the Army during the Korean War, joining in 1952.

“I worked on the machinery during the day, and guarded Japanese prisoners at night,” Marshall said. “The canes are very good, a nice gesture.”

“I'm real (pleased) with it,” Craig said, while admiring his new cane. “They are very nice.”

Lunch was made by Hodgdon Green chef Elijah Curtis with help from Kim Palino of Waldoboro Green, who visited for the day.

“It was a terrific celebration, thanks to Amylynn,” Executive Director of the ElderCare Network Andrea Handel said.