Harold Dushame Memorial Planned

Residents who visited in recent years were often compelled to smile because of Harold "Dutch" Dushame, the nice knowledgeable gentleman who worked in the Town Clerk's office

But Dushame was more than just a friendly face downtown. He was a veteran of the Air Force and served for two decades in the military, including two tours in Vietnam, before retiring with the rank of a liuetenant colonel. After his military career, he served the town in many volunteer capacities until he passed away this year.

So the Patriotic Observance Committee has announced plans to memorialize Harold Dushame's service with a granite bench with his name engraved on it, to be placed it front of Town Hall.

The Lt. Col. Harold A Dushame Memorial Bench will be dedicated one year from today -- on Patriot Day, Sept. 11, 2013 -- according to Patriotic Observance Committee Chair Ted Tripp.

And the town could use your help.

The Patriotic Observance Committee has set up the Lt. Col. Harold A. Dushame Memorial Fund to support the memorial bench project.

Donations may be sent to the fund at 120 Main St., North Andover, MA 01845.

Dushame graduated from the old Johnson High School in 1947 and earned his bachelor's degree from Union College. He was then commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and was a career photo-intelligence officer, working with U-2 and SR-71 spy planes and serving in Japan, France, Germany and two tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired from the military in 1973 and taught ROTC at Boston University.

Later in life, Dushame devoted his time to serving North Andover. He was was a member of the North Andover Improvement Society and the Friends of Memorial Park (he even spent time raking that park). He served on the School Building Committee and the board of the North Andover Historical Society. He donated money to local organizations, toys to the Fire Department and uniforms for the Honor Guard. And that big clock you see outside on the Stevens Memorial Library was donated by Dushame as well. Those are just some of the many ways Dushame contributed to the improvement of the town.

In 2003, Harold received the North Andover Americanism Award. And in 2010, Congress presented him with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.

So now, the Patriotic Observance Committee wants to honor Dushame right in the center of downtown.

For further information, please contact Ted Tripp at 978-725-6509 or Ed Mitchell at 978-688-9525.