Senator Hassan Recognizes Maurice Mailhot of Berlin as June’s Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Maurice Mailhot of Berlin as June’s Granite Stater of the Month for his work and dedication to redesign the Veterans Memorial Park in Berlin.

A Korean War veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts during his service, Maurice is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Last year, Maurice was asked by his fellow VFW members to lead and coordinate efforts to redesign Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Berlin.

Starting with the memorial for the Spanish American War, at the age of 90, Maurice worked through northern New Hampshire’s grueling winter and into the spring to place each war memorial centrally and in chronological order in the park. Maurice even designed and donated a new signpost to the memorial park to replace an older, wooden sign that failed to reflect the reverence that each of the war memorials is intended to convey.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

See below for Senator Hassan’s statement to the Congressional Record honoring Maurice Mailhot of Berlin as June’s Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN. M. President, I am proud to recognize Maurice Mailhot of Berlin as June’s Granite Stater of the Month. Maurice, a veteran who served in the Korean War and received two Purple Hearts during his service, worked diligently to help redesign Veterans Memorial Park in Berlin. Starting with the memorial for the Spanish American War, Maurice worked through northern New Hampshire’s grueling winter and into the spring to place each war memorial centrally and in chronological order in the park, creating a tribute worthy of New Hampshire’s veterans.

The story of how Maurice came to redesign the park is a testament to his service to his community and his indomitable spirit. A lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Maurice was asked by his fellow VFW members to lead and coordinate efforts to redesign Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Berlin. As one of the oldest members of the group, Maurice could’ve said no and enjoyed his well-deserved retirement, but instead, he not only organized the redesign, but almost single-handedly completed the construction himself.

Maurice, working mostly alone, dug holes around each memorial so that it could be lifted by machinery to a more optimal spot in the park.

Maurice also designed a new signpost for the memorial park, replacing an older, wooden sign that failed to reflect the reverence that each of the war memorials is intended to convey. The new sign, made of solid, local granite, was donated by Maurice to honor Berlin’s veteran community.

Maurice embodies what it means to be a Granite Stater. Long after his brave service to our country, Maurice continues to serve his community and has gone to extraordinary lengths to honor his fellow veterans. I am grateful not only for Maurice’s service, but also for his dedication to his community, and I am honored to recognize him. 

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