A message from the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services
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Maine Veteran Service Agencies to Co-Host Cultural Awareness Training
On Friday, December 5, 2019, the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services (MBVS) and the VA Maine Healthcare System will co-host the state's first-ever Wabanaki cultural awareness training, focusing on the service of Maine's Native American veterans and service members.
As part of the presentation, Donald Soctomah, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Passamaquoddy Tribe will be speaking on the topic of Maine Native American History and the role Native American veterans have taken in the United States Military.
The training will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the VA Maine Healthcare System, Theater (Building 210).
Following Mr. Soctomah’s presentation, there will be a screening of “Underground Cities – The Secrets of World War I” a film recounting the early part of WWI and the Yankee Division of New England. A brief question and answer session will be held after the film.
Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services Presents New Honorable Service Coins
On Friday, November 8th the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) hosted a recognition ceremony and art show at the Maine State House, and had the privilege of presenting Maine veterans with the new Honorable Service Coin.
Governor Janet Mills and Major General Douglas Farnham of the Maine National Guard joined the Bureau to individually thank over 150 veterans for their service to our great state and country.
The new coin is available for all veterans who did not serve in WWII, Korea or Vietnam. Veterans who served in these designated periods of war will receive a commemorative coin from that specific period.
If you or someone you know served in the United States Military, and received an honorable discharge, let us thank you with our coin. Please contact us today at:
mainebvs@maine.gov or 207-430-6035.
Bucksport Middle School Students Collect Donations for Homeless Veterans
On Friday, November 22nd students and staff of Bucksport Middle School hosted a Veterans Day Assembly, where they presented Jarad Greeley, Homeless Veteran Coordinator for the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, with over 900 items to be distributed to Maine's veterans.
As part of the assembly, students had the opportunity to hear from a local Vietnam Veteran.
Immediately after high school, he was drafted and attended training at Fort Lewis. Upon completion of training, he was sent straight to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller with the Rangers.
After his tour in Vietnam, he decided to go back to school, attended the University of Maine and has been a teacher ever since.
The most touching part of the story was when he shared his experience of visiting the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. Approaching the wall from the road, he said you couldn’t really see much, and someone stopped him to ask if he would be alright. Not fully understanding why they had asked, he responded that he would be fine and continued to approach the memorial.
As he turned the corner and could finally see, “it was like 500lbs had been lifted from his shoulders” and all he could do was cry.
Finding 8 soldiers from his unit that were killed in action during his tour, the lesson this veteran wanted the students to understand more than anything is the brotherhood veterans have with each other.
The donations collected by Bucksport Middle School will be distributed across Maine, and is yet another example of the communal support veterans know and appreciate.
We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the assembly and thank the students and staff for their hard work.
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What's Happening
What: VA First Responder Training
When: December 11th from 1:00PM - 4:00PM and December 12th from 8:30AM - 11:30AM
Where: Madawaska Police Department
RSVP to jpelletier@madawaskapolice.com or ecyr@madawaska.me
What: Lewiston Vet Center Holiday Party
When: December 6th from 2:30PM - 7:00PM
Where: Vineyard Church, 7 Foss Rd, Lewiston ME 04240
What: Holiday Cheer at the Blaine House
When: December 14th from 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Where: Blaine House, Augusta ME 04330
RSVP by December 11th at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meng-child-youth-program-military-holiday-cheer-at-the-blaine-house-tickets-79359260685?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
What: VA Maine Veteran and Family Open House
When: December 14th from 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Where: VA Maine (Togus) 1 VA Center, Augusta ME 04330
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