Neighbors

Jacques Is a Memorial Day Man

Ten years have passed since Bucksport celebrated its bicentennial in 1992. But Oliva Jacques still thinks every day is an occasion to be proud of the town.

Memorial Day, marked three days ago, is an especially poignant day for Jacques. 

It was highlighted, as usual, by a 4 p.m. parade—a time that allows for the participation of shift workers who finish at 3 p.m. at the International Paper mill.

Now 72, Jacques is retired after 37 years as an electrician there. Today he gives much of his time to tasks around town. He enjoys keeping a hand in.

Which brings us back to Memorial Day. More than 500 veterans are buried in Bucksport’s 20 cemeteries and burial sites.

That’s a number that Jacques doesn’t take lightly—and not simply because he takes charge of setting out the new flags for the veterans’ graves each May.

He has been chair of the town’s Cemetery Committee for 14 years. His wife, Helen, the mother of their eight children, would accompany him as they set out the veterans’ flags each May. Sadly, she passed away in April.

“I just saw the need, that all the cemeteries were not being maintained as well as they could be,” he said. “So we got the town’s support, and now we are in the town’s budget each year, too.”

Jacques has been a member of the American Legion even longer than he worked at the mill. He has hardly missed a monthly meeting or memorial occasion in 47 years.

His patriotism comes from having served three years in the Air Force during the Korean War. He spent nine more years in reserves.

“I have always felt grateful about the sacrifices that the servicemen provided for the country,” Jacques said.

“I was not involved with any supreme sacrifice situation. I was never under fire. Most of what I did was support in maintaining the aircraft.

“But any time we can honor these men who went through the ordeals of heavy combat, I think they are very deserving of recognition.”

Accordingly, the Bucksport American Legion members’ schedule is especially packed on Memorial Day. They first attend a 9 a.m. parade in Searsport, followed by a 10:30 a.m. parade in Stockton Springs. They do a Prospect parade at noon and Bucksport’s own parade at 4 p.m.

Jacques marches in all four.

“The problem is that we have got a lot of older members,” he said. “Not too many can walk in all four. We just haven’t been able to encourage the younger, potential veterans to join us.”

Jacques has always been a walker, anyway. For years he walked the 1½ miles from his home on Broadway to the mill. Now, he walks around town, stopping in most every day at the town offices.

He can’t break himself of the habit of going in and taking an interest in town business. Often he brings in treats for the office workers.

“I enjoy the people down there,” he said. “They still make me feel welcome when I walk in. I don’t go in and complain.”

A former councilman, Jacques served for 10 years in the ’80s. That led to his role as the town’s chair for the Bicentennial Committee in 1992.

He also was a guiding voice in the development of Bucksport’s waterfront.

“I give a lot of credit to Roger Raymond, our present town manager, for the waterfront,” Jacques said. “Being on the council, at times it was difficult to get money to get the project started. But we kept it in the forefront, with the help of this town manager.

“He rolled up his sleeves and was very inventive about finding ways and money to get these things done.”

 There is a gazebo at the waterfront now, but it was constructed only after the flagpole went up.

“My wife was in favor of the gazebo, but it lost out to first putting up a flagpole,” he said. “And that was long before Sept. 11 and all the patriotic interest. But it is nice to see that flag flying down there.”

Jacques took the lead in other ways around Bucksport, too. In the 1970s, he was the union president at the mill for IB&W 1777. He was also on the board of directors for the Seaboard Federal Credit Union. He continues to attend those annual meetings.

“I’d like to think that Bucksport is a little better place, for my having been here,” Jacques said.

“I feel that I have made a difference. I’d like to think that it’s all been positive.”