RUMFORD — About 40 veterans, police officers, firefighters, town officials and River Valley residents stood in silent salute Thursday afternoon as a black band was placed on the shield of Army Pvt. Buddy McLain.

McLain, 24, of Peru, was one of six soldiers from the 101st Airborne killed when they were ambushed Monday by an Afghan Border Police officer.

The shield and others like it lining Congress Street to honor River Valley soldiers in Afghanistan were made by former Selectman J. Arthur Boivin and Rumford’s American Legion Auxiliary and placed on lampposts in August.

Because the shields were modeled after Rumford firefighter and police shields, it was decided to place a black band across the bottom half of McLain’s shield below his name. That’s what police and firefighters do when one of their own is killed on duty, Boivin said.

The Rev. Dane Curato of Rumford’s American Legion Post 24, of which McLain was a member, spoke, prompting salutes of respect while Boivin placed the band as Rumford fire Lt. Rob Dixon steadied the ladder on which he stood.

Andrew and Brenda Freeman, the parents of McLain’s widow Chelsea McClain, and her aunt, Jolene Norris of Peru, stood grieving with Chelsea’s 15-month-old son, Owen.

Afterward, Curato offered a prayer.

Andrew Freeman thanked Boivin, Curato and others.

“I’d like to thank the community once again for their support,” he said. “The outpouring has really been something else and I think it’s just starting.”

“At first, people left us alone to give us some privacy, but now I think we’re going to see more support. I mean, what a tribute right there,” he said of the band ceremony. “Buddy saw that shield and it meant so much to him.”

“Yes, that means a lot to soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Eric Richardson of the Maine Army National Guard at Camp Keyes, Augusta.

Richardson has been assigned to help McLain’s family through the bereavement process.

Curato said the Legion’s veterans and officers assumed the role of an honor guard.

“We’re here to honor (McLain) and we felt what Arthur did was a very nice gesture,” he said. “I know it’s hard for the family, but we feel as Legionnaires that we should honor our servicemen and women.”

Boivin, whose son Army Lt. Greg Boivin is stationed in Herat, Afghanistan, said he was honored to participate. He got the idea to place shields from the last time the town did it to honor its men and women serving in Operation Desert Storm.

“This is unfortunate as hell, but I’m just glad I was part of getting it done,” he said.

He said he believes McLain’s death stunned the community so hard because it has been many years since a River Valley area soldier died on duty.

Although many mourned when neighboring Bethel lost Pvt. Tyler Jacob Smith on March 21, 2008, after an attack on his base near Baghdad during the Iraq War, the last River Valley soldiers were killed during the Vietnam War.

Curato said they were David Thibodeau, Harry Theriault, Bruce Tibbetts, Carl Packard Jr., Frederick Milledge and John H. R. Brooks.

tkarkos@sunjournal