Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 12 : Spring 2012 | Page 55

The Silver Lining
of Fort Kent’s Main Street
by Clarence “Cur” Soucy

At the threshold of “America’s First Mile,” Fort
Kent invites all to experience, the serenity of its small
town, with a beautifully intricate landscape, shouldered
by two large ridges. Here a scenic river serves as one of
our country’s natural boundaries separating the United
States from Canada. This attractive setting marks the
entrance to U.S. Route One, anchoring Fort Kent as
the head of the U.S. Highway running parallel along the
Atlantic Seaboard south to Key West, Florida. Canvassed
against this backdrop of the Canadian border and the
water’s edge of the upper St. John River is this thriving
community that makes the home of the Fort Kent Lions.

Vested in an Acadian heritage, Fort Kent dubbed
as “The Little Town that could” following its hosting
of the 2004 IBU World Cup Biathlon is reputed as a
community with a “can do attitude.” Emerging from
the folds of this vibrant community is a rich history of
individuals, responsible for the growth and promotion
of their town, beyond its demographic setting. In the
lineup of distinguished community entrepreneurs, is a
secular service organization of responsive, energetic men
who have taken their pledge “None above you, none
beneath you, but with you!” outside of their meeting hall.
The Fort Kent Lions Club with a current membership of
75 active members share a core belief – “community is
what we make it.”

It is within this milieu of high civic energy
that the Fort Kent Lions, founded in 1938, has been a
forerunner in promoting the civic, cultural and social
welfare of this thriving community. An affiliate and
chapter of Lions Club International with a membership
of over 1.35 million members worldwide, the Fort Kent
Lions Club from its inception has remained a steadfast
organization. Consistent with the motto “We Serve”
the club goals continue to align themselves with the
international mission of sight conservation, hearing
and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth
outreach, international relations, environmental issues,
and other programs. The depth of vision and a resolute
of community promotion, by the original founders of
the Fort Kent Lions Club, established the foundation for
what today, continues to be an unwavering accomplished
civic organization in its 73rd year of service to the Greater
Fort Kent area. This jovial spirit and responsiveness

to community outreach has been a major impetus that
continues to attract new members to an ever-growing
organization. The inspiration and generosity of those
that have come before, defines the Fort Kent Lions
Club and tells of its ongoing success. Combined with
the thousands of hours of in-kind services, the club has
raised and returned to the community, in the last 15 years
alone, over half a million dollars.

Crafted from a lineage of French Canadian descent
with a rich history of strong work ethics, traditional
family values and a spirited sense of joie de vivre carves a
community that knows too well, the cliché of “thinking
outside of the box.