Family in Maine Hopes to Build World's Tallest Flagpole
2023-07-11
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1In Maine's Down East area, large forests and ocean meet in one of the last undeveloped places on the U.S. East Coast.
2The area is also the setting for the Worcester family's big vision.
3It involves building the largest flagpole in the world.
4It would reach higher than the Empire State Building.
5And at the top of the flagpole? An American flag bigger than a football field.
6To supporters, the $1 billion project, financed in part by donations, would unite Americans and remind them of shared values at a time of political divisions.
7But so far, the project - called the Flagpole of Freedom Park - has been a big subject of debate.
8Columbia Falls, with a population of 485 people, is the place closest to where the pole would rise.
9People there have different ideas about whether the project is a good idea.
10Morrill Worcester is the founder of Worcester Wreath and the main force behind the project.
11He described the goal this way: "We want to bring Americans together...and unite a divided America."
12But some local people have raised questions about the project.
13Does the quiet area want the visitors it would bring?
14Would the project hurt the land?
15How should one balance development and environmentalism?
16The flagpole alone is a big proposal.
17It would be around 445 meters tall.
18Elevators would bring people to viewing areas where they could see Canada.
19One worried resident said: "It's like putting the Eiffel Tower in the Maine wilderness."
20Morrill Worcester also imagines a village with living history museums telling the country's story through veterans' eyes.
21There would be restaurants, event buildings, and monument walls with the name of every veteran who has died since the American Revolution - about 24 million names.
22In Columbia Falls, many were surprised by the size of the project.
23It would require cutting down trees for parking spaces and building housing for hundreds, maybe thousands of workers.
24"This is the last wilderness on the East Coast," said Marie Emerson, whose husband, Dell, is a longtime blueberry farmer and university research farm manager.
25She said the natural environment makes the area special.
26A large development could destroy forests and wild blueberry areas that have been here for thousands of years.
27But behind the beauty lies an economy where many are struggling.
28The area has some of the state's highest unemployment and poverty rates.
29The area's residents are among the state's oldest.
30The area is dealing with an opioid abuse problem.
31There is a joke people tell in the area.
32It goes something like this: We may send lobsters, blueberries, and wreaths to the world, but our biggest export is young people looking for work.
33After the project became public knowledge, town residents began taking sides. Some saw Worcester as a quiet man trying to do something good.
34Others saw a businessman used to getting his way, trying to force his version of America onto others.
35Patriotism, critics say, is not measured by the height of a flagpole.
36But divisive political debates are not good, either, said Jeff Greene, a contractor and one of three members of the town's Select Board.
37"What we're desperately in need of in this area in the country, or in the world as a whole, is the ability to listen to somebody you disagree with in an attempt to find something of value," he said, adding: "Even if you disagree with them."
38The Worcester family has support and donations.
39It has not announced how much money it has raised.
40Mike Worcester is one of Morrill Worcester's sons.
41He said in a statement to the Associated Press that the family respects the wishes of town residents who want more time to study the proposal.
42And so, that is how the project stands for now.
43It represents a moment in the life of a town.
44It also shows how the love of home and of country can be powerful and can sometimes be at odds.
45Peter Doak, an army veteran, knows Morrill Worcester as a humble but determined man.
46Doak describes his friend as a visionary.
47He describes it like this: People thought Walt Disney World, built in a Florida swampland, was a crazy idea.
48They thought Mount Rushmore was very strange and unusual.
49Both are now treasured in the United States.
50"He's going to build that flagpole," Doak says.
51"So why shouldn't it be Columbia Falls?"
52I'm John Russell.
53And I'm Ashley Thompson.
1In Maine's Down East area, large forests and ocean meet in one of the last undeveloped places on the U.S. East Coast. 2The area is also the setting for the Worcester family's big vision. It involves building the largest flagpole in the world. It would reach higher than the Empire State Building. And at the top of the flagpole? An American flag bigger than a football field. 3To supporters, the $1 billion project, financed in part by donations, would unite Americans and remind them of shared values at a time of political divisions. 4But so far, the project - called the Flagpole of Freedom Park - has been a big subject of debate. Columbia Falls, with a population of 485 people, is the place closest to where the pole would rise. People there have different ideas about whether the project is a good idea. 5Disputes 6Morrill Worcester is the founder of Worcester Wreath and the main force behind the project. He described the goal this way: "We want to bring Americans together...and unite a divided America." 7But some local people have raised questions about the project. Does the quiet area want the visitors it would bring? Would the project hurt the land? How should one balance development and environmentalism? 8The flagpole alone is a big proposal. It would be around 445 meters tall. Elevators would bring people to viewing areas where they could see Canada. One worried resident said: "It's like putting the Eiffel Tower in the Maine wilderness." 9Morrill Worcester also imagines a village with living history museums telling the country's story through veterans' eyes. There would be restaurants, event buildings, and monument walls with the name of every veteran who has died since the American Revolution - about 24 million names. 10In Columbia Falls, many were surprised by the size of the project. It would require cutting down trees for parking spaces and building housing for hundreds, maybe thousands of workers. 11"This is the last wilderness on the East Coast," said Marie Emerson, whose husband, Dell, is a longtime blueberry farmer and university research farm manager. 12She said the natural environment makes the area special. A large development could destroy forests and wild blueberry areas that have been here for thousands of years. 13Economy and social issues 14But behind the beauty lies an economy where many are struggling. 15The area has some of the state's highest unemployment and poverty rates. The area's residents are among the state's oldest. The area is dealing with an opioid abuse problem. 16There is a joke people tell in the area. It goes something like this: We may send lobsters, blueberries, and wreaths to the world, but our biggest export is young people looking for work. 17Taking sides 18After the project became public knowledge, town residents began taking sides. Some saw Worcester as a quiet man trying to do something good. Others saw a businessman used to getting his way, trying to force his version of America onto others. 19Patriotism, critics say, is not measured by the height of a flagpole. But divisive political debates are not good, either, said Jeff Greene, a contractor and one of three members of the town's Select Board. 20"What we're desperately in need of in this area in the country, or in the world as a whole, is the ability to listen to somebody you disagree with in an attempt to find something of value," he said, adding: "Even if you disagree with them." 21The Worcester family has support and donations. It has not announced how much money it has raised. Mike Worcester is one of Morrill Worcester's sons. He said in a statement to the Associated Press that the family respects the wishes of town residents who want more time to study the proposal. 22And so, that is how the project stands for now. It represents a moment in the life of a town. It also shows how the love of home and of country can be powerful and can sometimes be at odds. 23Peter Doak, an army veteran, knows Morrill Worcester as a humble but determined man. 24Doak describes his friend as a visionary. He describes it like this: People thought Walt Disney World, built in a Florida swampland, was a crazy idea. They thought Mount Rushmore was very strange and unusual. Both are now treasured in the United States. 25"He's going to build that flagpole," Doak says. "So why shouldn't it be Columbia Falls?" 26I'm John Russell. 27And I'm Ashley Thompson. 28David Sharp reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 29__________________________________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31vision -n. something you imagine or dream of that you believe is an important experience 32flagpole - n. a pole used to display a flag 33resident - n. one who lives in a place 34wilderness - n. a wild and natural area in which few people live 35manager - n. a person who directs or supervises a business or organization 36opioid - n. a kind of drug that is used to reduce pain or cause sleep 37wreath - n. an arrangement of leaves or flowers in the shape of a circle that is placed as a sign of honor 38at odds - expression in a state of disagreement 39humble - adj. not thinking of yourself as better than other people 40determined - adj. having reached a decision : firmly resolved