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| Eagle Scout Jamie Louko, who built the gazebo in Betty McDermott's honor, shared his memories of the well loved volunteer |
Can one person truly make a difference in their
community? Last Saturday, the answer to that question was a resounding yes
as the Raymond Village Library dedicated their new gazebo to the memory of
long-time Raymond resident Betty McDermott and the spirit of community service
that she embodied.
A
devoted volunteer and advocate for Raymond, McDermott served the town in many
capacities. She was a member of Raymond’s Board of Selectmen for nine
years, serving as the Chair for two of those years. She was also a charter
member of the Raymond-Casco Historical Society, and she served as the Treasurer
of the Raymond Women’s Club, which built and ran the Raymond Village Library.
“This
library exists because of Betty,” Sheila Bourque, head of Raymond Village
Library’s Board of Directors, told a crowd of over sixty people at Saturday’s
dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Sheila praised the efforts of local
volunteers not only in the library by also in the Raymond Recreation program,
the Raymond Lions Club, and the Raymond Arts Alliance.
“These
programs are all made possible by the efforts of our volunteers,” Sheila said.
Maine
State Senator Bill Diamond
and state Representative Jessica Fay
also praised Betty’s service.
“To
be honest, I was pretty intimidated by her,” Fay admitted as the audience
laughed. “Betty was smart, powerful, and had the courage of her convictions.” Fay
also applauded Betty’s extensive service. “Volunteers hold our community
together,” she concluded.
Don
Willard, Raymond’s current Town Manager, echoed Jessica’s assessment
that Betty McDermott could be intimidating. However, he also spoke of his close
relationship with the McDermott family. “I consider myself a surrogate
McDermott,” Willard said.
Willard
recounted several of the many projects McDermott helped to advance, from
extending the water line to improving Route 302 to constructing the new fire
station and elementary school. “Betty loved the town, she had a vision
for the town, and she wanted to move the town forward,” Willard told the crowd
as he stood in front of the gazebo dedicated to McDermott’s memory. “She really
tried to make a difference.”
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| Frank McDermott remembers his wife |
“When
I thought about my childhood,” Louko said at the dedication, “I spent every
weekend here at the library. There was no doubt in my mind that my project
should be here. I want kids to have the same great experience I had.”
Betty
McDermott was also a part of Louko’s childhood. Louko lives next door to
the McDermott family, and he told the audience that he remembered selling
popcorn to Betty as a Scout fundraiser.
“We
live in a very rural part of Raymond,” Frank McDermott, Betty’s husband,
explained. “And Jaimie was the only kid who ever came to our house for
Halloween.”
McDermott’s
oldest son, George also recounted his memories of her involvement in the
library, from organizing rummage sales to their family’s frequent visits to the
library’s previous location. Just like Jamie Louko, the Scout who built the
gazebo, George shared fond memories of childhood afternoons spent at the
Raymond Village Library looking for the newest Hardy Boys book. Thanks to the
efforts of Betty, Jaime, and the many volunteers who are following in their
footsteps, the next generation of Raymond children will be able to enjoy their
favorite books in the shade of the library’s outdoor gazebo.
“This
gazebo is not just for Betty,” Frank McDermott declared shortly before cutting
the red ribbon and officially opening the new structure. “This is for anyone
who’s ever donated their time. People ask, ‘What can I do?’ You tell them: ‘You
can volunteer.’”
The
Betty McDermott Memorial Gazebo outside the Raymond Village Library at 3 Meadow
Road is open to the public. If you would like to check out a book to read while
you enjoy the gazebo, the library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Saturdays.
