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Editorial Thumbs up to dedicated veterans

Portsmouth Herald - 6/3/2017

Thumbs up to Martin Cameron for his remarkable devotion to honoring the memory of 26 Portsmouth residents who died in active duty in World War I.

He placed flags at the monuments in their memory on Wednesday this year, a couple days after Memorial Day. He has taken care of the monuments at Plains Field since 2010 when the city put them back in that area. He was critical when the monuments were moved to the edge of Middle and Peverly Hill roads, where he felt they lacked visibility.

The 88-year-old Cameron is a 28-year veteran of the Air Force. Other than a Portsmouth Herald reporter, no one joined Cameron at his ceremony this year. Cameron is never deterred in his mission.

We all know we should be eternally grateful for those who gave their lives for our country. Cameron plays a huge role in making sure the soldiers are never forgotten in Portsmouth.

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Thumbs up yet again to local award-winning chefs Matt Louis of Moxy and Franklin Oyster House and Evan Mallett from Black Trumpet for stepping up yet again for a great cause.

This time they are holding an event called Shuck and Chuck to benefit On Belay, a nonprofit organization provides adventure-based programs for young people ages 8-18 who have a family member diagnosed with cancer.

Stephanie Beck, executive director of On Belay in Newmarket, the program serves Maine from the Seacoast. Activities offered include paddling, climbing and backpacking.

Shuck and Chuck will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at the Old Town Hall in Newington. Tickets are $45 and are available at on-belay.org/buy-tickets-shuck-chuck-make-donation.

"It's a wonderful thing to be a part of," Louis said.

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Thumbs up to a local fisherman, Newington police and the Newington Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care and Referral Hospital for their roles in saving the life of Charlie, a small dog who was found in the Piscataqua River.

The dog named Charlie was suffering from hypothermia when he was found and pulled from the river by the fisherman. Veterinary technician Monique Demers cared for the dog after he was transported in a police cruiser.

The outcome was happy: Charlie could have died but he's home and recovering.

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Thumbs up and good luck to all the Seacoast high school athletes heading into state tournaments this month. It's an exciting time of year with proms and graduations and the chance to win a championship in baseball, tennis, softball, track, lacrosse and other sports is a big part of the end-of-school-year excitement.

It's not easy, especially for seniors, to balance everything going on this month. But these games are also making lifetime memories. Get out and cheer on the local athletes if you can.