Bridge memorializes fallen soldier
Gold Star span between Atkinson and Sebec
honors Capt. Brainard who served in Afghanistan
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
Those traveling over the Piscataquis River on the Stagecoach Road between Atkinson and Sebec will be now be reminded of the life of U.S. Army Cpt. John “Jay” Brainard, an Atkinson resident and Apache helicopter pilot who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Memorial Day 2012. The bridge, a span Brainard crossed countless times, is now known as the Capt. John “Jay” Brainard Memorial Bridge, and the structure was formally dedicated on the afternoon of July 30.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HONORING A HOMETOWN HERO — The bridge spanning the Piscataquis River between Atkinson and Sebec will now be known as the Capt. John “Jay” Brainard Gold Star Memorial Bridge, named in honor of the Atkinson resident who was killed in action on Memorial Day 2012 when the Apache Helicopter he was piloting was shot down by enemy fire. The bridge was dedicated during a ceremony on July 30 and sitting in front were Brainard’s uncle and aunt/godparents Donald “Whitey” and Nancy White and Brainard’s daughter Aaliayh Bubar, holding a memorial wreath for her father.
With hundreds gathered on the bridge and looking toward the Sebec side of the river, Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) began the presentation by saying, “I have to tell you I feel very humbled and honored to be here today.” Davis, who sponsored a bill in the Legislature to name the bridge in Brainard’s honor, said the more he has learned about the captain’s life, the more impressed he became.
Davis said Brainard is honored by having the bridge dedicated in his name and “he brought the honor to us by giving his all to us.”
Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) said he had the pleasure of spending time with Brainard’s maternal aunt and uncle and godparents Nancy and Donald “Whitey” White. Higgins said he was speaking on Saturday as both a representative and as a trustee of Foxcroft Academy, where Brainard graduated from in 2004.
Higgins said Foxcroft Academy offers its students a combination of academic, athletic and extracurricular challenges. “Jay took full advantage of those opportunities,” Higgins said. He said Brainard was an honor student, member of the 2003 Class C state championship football team, swam on the Pony swim team, played trumpet in the Honors Jazz Band and more.
“We have a saying at Foxcroft Academy, ‘It’s not who you are today, but who you will be tomorrow,’” Higgins said. “Today we are reminded of the price of freedom and we at Foxcroft Academy are proud to call you one of us.”
“Thank you for joining us here today to honor our hometown hero Capt. Jay Brainard,” Donald White said. “My wife Nancy would now like to share some of Jay’s story.”
“Our beloved nephew and godson Capt. Jay Brainard was born in Waterville, Maine on Sept. 1, 1985 to his parents Susan Banks Phelps and John Brainard,” White said. She said Brainard spent his early years in Newport and “he was surrounded by a loving extended family.”
Brainard attended St. Agnes Parochial School in Pittsfield through grade 5 and at the age of 10 he moved to Atkinson. “He loved the rugged off the grid lifestyle that he lived here,” White said. “Jay enjoyed snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, canoeing, biking, gardening, bicycling and all outdoor activities.”
After graduating with honors from Foxcroft Academy, White said Brainard attended the University of Maine and earned a degree – magna cum laude – in political science. “As a proud Black Bear ROTC cadet, Jay excelled and received the Cadet of the Year Award his junior and senior years,” White said. “He was president of the Scabbard and Blade Society and was awarded the prestigious Joshua Chamberlain Award for Excellence. Jay graduated at the top 10 percent of the ROTC cadets nationally and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in June of 2008.
“After graduation Jay married his best friend Emily Southwick of Standish, Maine. Emily remained by Jay’s side throughout his military career.” White said Brainard was later selected to train as an Apache helicopter pilot, earned the promotion of 1st Lt. and then the rank of captain while at his first duty station in Illesheim, Germany.
“Jay and his wife Emily truly enjoyed living in Germany where they made many close friends and earned a reputation for serving their fellow soldiers and their families,” White said.
Brainard served as attack platoon leader for Bravo Company, 3-159th ARB, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and in March 2012 he was selected as brigade adjutant. “Capt. Brainard was deployed to Camp Marmal Afghanistan in April of 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” White said.
“On Memorial Day May 28, 2012 Capt. Jay Brainard and his fellow pilot CWS Jon Pratt were killed in action after their AH G4D Apache helicopter was shot down by enemy fire,” she said.
For his service Brainard received the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NATO Medal, National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge.
“We feel it’s so very fitting that this bridge spanning the Piscataquis River here in Jay’s beloved hometown of Atkinson be named in his honor,” Donald White said. “Jay loved living here in Atkinson and he traveled over the bridge many times in his life. He rode the school bus over the bridge to (middle school in Milo) every day. He pedaled the bike over the bridge and down the river to visit friends. He snowmobiled across to access trails, drove his truck across, fished, canoed, hunted and picked fiddleheads along the shore.
“He loved the quiet serenity of his beloved hometown and cherished coming home to Atkinson whenever he was on leave.”
State Trooper John York served as a University of Maine ROTC cadet with Brainard and he told the audience, “I can hardly remember a time when Jay wasn’t grinning ear to ear.”
“The best word I can think to describe Jay is glue,” York said, as Brainard was always working behind the scenes and helped keep what was a small ROTC class together. “Jay was a leader who joined an organization and made it better than when he started.”
Retired U.S. Army Col. Jay Vorhees served as Brainard’s commanding officer with the 3-159th ARB, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. He told Brainard’s uncle and aunt, “Your dedication to ensure Jay’s memory will never die is an inspiration to all of us.”
“Just seeing this event gives me great pride,” Vorhees said, saying the memories he has of Brainard will never fade away. Vorhees said Brainard always gave him great comfort when he would call out “Capt. Brainard” to the next room and then immediately heard, “‘On my way sir.’”
“Every time you come across this bridge in years to come say a thanks for the freedom you enjoy thanks to Jay who sacrificed all of his tomorrows for our todays,” Vorhees said.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) said all life is special but “it is especially painful when a small town like Atkinson and Sebec loses one of its heros.”
“When we all get together we honor and appreciate the men and women who are serving,” Poliquin said. He said Brainard is not forgotten and “when our kids are riding across this bridge they will be riding on the shoulders of Jay Brainard and every other man and woman who has fought to keep us free.”
The dedication ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute by the American Legion Post 77 rifle team and a wreath laying by Nancy White, Brainard’s daughter Aaliayh Bubar and his grandmother Louise “Meme” Bresnahan.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CAPT. JOHN “JAY” BRAINARD GOLD STAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE — Capt. Jay Brainard traveled over the bridge over the Piscataquis River connecting his hometown of Atkinson to Sebec countless times during his lifetime. The structure is now named in his honor, formally dedicated during a ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HONORING THE LIFE OF CAPT. BRAINARD — U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) and Nancy White embrace after the congressman presented her with an American flag during Saturday’s dedication of the Capt. John “Jay” Brainard Gold Star Memorial Bridge. Looking on is Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville), left who sponsored the bill to name the bridge between Atkinson and Sebec in Brainard’s honor, and Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft).
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WREATH FROM HIS FAMILY — From left, Capt. Jay Brainard’s daughter Aaliayh Bubar, grandmother Louise “Meme” Bresnahan and aunt/godmother Nancy White lay a wreath on the Capt. John “Jay” Brainard Gold Star Memorial Bridge at the conclusion of the dedication ceremony on July 30.