Eastern Promenade - Jacob Cousins Post & Jewish War Veterans Memorial

89 Eastern Promenade

On the Eastern Promenade, at the corner of Cutter Street is a modest stone memorial. This is the Jacob Cousins Post #99 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. It was erected in 1935, a reminder of the first Portland Jew to die in the Great War. A second and smaller plaque was added later, in memory of the seven Jewish veterans killed in World War II.

Jacob Cousins was the son of Moses I. Cousins (originally Koslovsky) and Fannie Shapiro Cousins. He graduated from the North School and Portland High School and Wentworth Institute, Boston and went on to become a metals broker. At age 24, he enlisted in the Army on September 20, 1917. He had been married to Frances Gerber for one week; he never saw his wife again. Jacob was killed less than a year after enlistment, in October 1918, north of the Sommerance-St. Juvin Road in France. A citation in his records reads, “When the lieutenant leading his platoon was killed, Corporal Cousins immediately assumed command, preventing it from wavering in its advance, and led it with coolness and bravery until he paid his supreme sacrifice.”

This memorial is significant for several reasons. American Jews, like many other immigrant and minority groups, have at different times faced suspicion from spurious allegations that they are cowards and disloyal to America: think of accusations directed towards Jewish-Americans during the Red Scare; African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement; Japanese-Americans during World War II; Muslim-Americans since 9/11, and Native Americans—including the Wabanaki—since World War II. (In 2007, Maine Governor John Baldacci honored Wabanaki veterans by proclaiming June 6 to be Native American Veterans History Day.) These accusations often falsely claim that these groups have not served in the U.S. military, with the inference that they are cowards or disloyal Americans. Back in 1896, a group of Jewish Civil War veterans organized the Hebrew Union Veterans (later the Jewish War Veterans of the USA). Its mission, in Maine and elsewhere, was to defend Jews “against the canards of anti-Semites who continue to declare that Jews have not served in the U.S. Armed Forces” as well as to provide support to veterans and their families.

These memorials were part of the campaign by Jewish leadership in these years to combat anti-Jewish sentiment – in this case, with public celebration of Jewish American vigor and patriotism (see the Downtown Trail). In 1935, more than 2,000 people attended the dedication of the Cousins Post. In the years following it was an integral part of the Portland Jewish community scene with flag dedications, Memorial Day worship services and sponsorship of community events. Jacob Cousins wasn’t awarded his Purple Heart, Silver Star and other decorations until seventy years later in November 1988, at the instigation of his niece, Faye Gordon, and her son Steven, who worked with Massachusetts Congressman, Barney Frank. The ceremony took place at Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue (Stop W04).