WASHBURN, Maine — A grieving family is finding some comfort in helping veterans across the country.
The body of missing Washburn man Erik Foote, 39, was found last week near the Aroostook River in Caribou, ending a nearly three-month search effort.
To honor their son, Brenda and Allan Foote launched a fundraising campaign on April 29 for the Disabled American Veterans. Erik, who served in the Army, didn’t get the help he needed to treat the post traumatic stress disorder that plagued him upon his return from Iraq, Brenda Foote said. But if the DAV can help others like him, it means their son’s life mattered.
They set a goal of $100,000 — a lofty but worthy target, Brenda Foote said.
“No amount of money can give me back my son. But that was my goal, a big goal that I know would make Erik happy,” she said. “That’s going to give us so much comfort. And how many veterans that will help.”
Erik Foote was reportedly last seen on Jan. 30 by former Washburn Police Sgt. Chandler Cole, who dropped him off at the Presque Isle Freshies convenience store, according to court affidavits. Cole was arrested for allegedly falsifying records in the case and will appear at Presque Isle District Court on May 8.
A local search effort united community members, and podcasters Travis Hartford and Jeff Atwood of Waterville featured the case in their “Locating the Lost” series.
When police discovered a body on April 23 in Caribou, Erik Foote’s parents were upset that authorities didn’t tell them right away. The state medical examiner issued a formal identification on April 25.
Brenda and Allan Foote wanted to do something to help veterans and honor their son at the same time. After researching various charities, they settled on Disabled American Veterans because of the variety of services it provides to former servicemen and women around the country.
The DAV uses donations to provide physical and mental health programs, employment counseling, housing help and transportation, Brenda Foote said. It doesn’t matter to her how the funds are used, as long as they’re helping veterans.
The DAV Charitable Services Trust is a nonprofit corporation that handles public contributions, according to its 1986 articles of incorporation. It carries a four-star, or highest, rating with the nonprofit Charity Navigator, a site that assesses organizations for consumers.
“Their slogan is ‘Keeping our promise to American veterans,’ Brenda Foote said. “Erik served his country honorably and proudly, and when he came home and needed help, he didn’t get it. Honoring him through the DAV will give some of that back to him.”
Creators receive a link to share, and all donations go directly to the DAV, she said.
The DAV website invites people to raise funds in honor of a veteran. The Footes’ campaign — The Greatest Tragedy is Being Forgotten – Remembering Erik James Foote — is listed among the top memorial campaigns. As of its second day, the campaign had raised about $800.
Erik Foote loved the military and joined ROTC in high school, enlisting in the Army after graduation. But he came back from Iraq with marked depression, his mother said.
She will remember Erik as a kind person who called everyone a friend and helped many people.
“He never met a stranger, ever,” she said. “Anybody that needed anything, Erik would do it for them. If it was freezing cold out, he would take his coat off and give it to them.”
That’s why it hurts to think about how witnesses described a distressed Erik walking along the road on the cold January day he disappeared. Someone reported they’d seen him barefoot with no coat, crying, she said, growing emotional.
Married for 42 years, she and Allan have comforted one another during the ordeal, she said. People on social media also supported them, including Stacey Baker of Wade, who organized a social media page and search efforts. Baker and podcasters Hartford and Atwood were her strength, Brenda Foote said.
Her heart goes out to families of other missing people, she said. She pointed out that Attiin Shaw, also of Washburn, is still missing, as is Graham Lacher of Bangor.
A candlelight remembrance vigil for Erik Foote is planned at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Washburn Area Veterans Memorial on Main Street.
“If he had gotten help, he’d be alive, and that’s a mother’s pain,” she said. “When I started that donation page and donations trickled in, [it] made me feel like ‘See, Erik, people care about what happened to you.’”
