Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance 

      The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) is pleased to announce that the American Legion and Easterseals Maine will be points of contact for distribution of Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance (VEFA), which is the result of the passage of LD 1736 in the 128th Maine State Legislature, a bill that was originally sponsored by Representative Louis Luchini of Ellsworth and Representative Bradlee Farrin of Norridgewock.

     VEFA was created to provide assistance for Maine Veterans who suffer an emergency and do not have sufficient savings or access to other financial assistance to resolve the emergency. Examples of assistance may include: Damage to the veterans home due to fire, flood or hurricane that is not covered by insurance; Illness of the veteran or family member that results in hardship, assistance to prevent or resolve the veteran being homeless; and any other condition that puts the veteran at risk of not having the basic necessities of food, shelter, or safety. 

     MBVS Director, David Richmond stated, “We are fortunate to have two proven, capable organizations, step-up to help us administer this program. Easterseals Maine, has the capacity and a proven track-record and of helping veterans in emergency situations and the American Legion (founded 100 years ago) with posts and service officers from Eliot to Fort Kent, will bring local accessibility to this program. I am anxious to begin. We receive requests daily for assistance from veterans all over the State, and up until today had very limited resources to assist. I think that this program demonstrates the commitment that the State of Maine has made to not leave a veteran without basic necessities. My thanks to the lawmakers, leaders and citizens that made this program a reality.”  

     Applications can be obtained by contacting The American Legion Department of Maine Headquarters at 207-873-3229 or Easterseals Maine at 207-828-0754 ext. 1004. 

Boothbay Vietnam Veteran
Receives Maine Silver Star
Honorable Service Medal

      On Friday, April 26th, Director David Richmond of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services awarded Vietnam Veteran, Patrick Farrin of Boothbay, ME, the Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medal in East Boothbay. The Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medal is awarded to veterans with honorable service on their DD-214s, were former POWs or received the Purple Heart, and who entered military service from Maine or have been living in Maine for five years.

    Patrick Farrin was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970, and served with the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal), which was based in Chu Lai. Pat's squad of 12-20 soldiers was flown out by helicopter to Camp Stinson, which was a fire support base in the mountains, for about 30 days and then they would go on patrol in the bush until they were rotated back to the base.   While on patrol, he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) made from two tuna fish cans, shrapnel, and explosive materials. 

      Farrin’s mother, Frances Mank, was also on hand for the ceremony; with evident pride and gratitude, she pinned the Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medal on her son."Thank you for this,” said Farrin after the ceremony. “It really means a lot and brings my mother and I full circle. She was sent a Western Union telegram by the U.S. Army informing her that I had been wounded, then waited weeks before she knew I was alright. Today brings closure to that."

Maine Veterans'
Graduation Ceremonies

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Director David Richmond attended Veterans' graduation ceremonies at the University of Southern Maine and University of Maine at Fort Kent. Best wishes to our graduating student veterans!

Memorial Day Ceremonies

Grave flags will be placed at the four Maine Veterans' Cemeteries on May 25th at 9:00 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremonies will be held at the Maine Veterans’ Cemeteries on May 27th at the following locations and times: Civic Center Drive, Augusta (Noon); Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta (2:00 p.m.); Caribou (1 p.m.) and Springvale (1:00 p.m.). There will also be Memorial Day services at Togus in Augusta. Guests are asked to meet in the B 205 parking lot at 7:45 a.m., then drive over to the East Cemetery first and the West Cemetery second.

                  VA Seminar at American
                        Legion Post #36

      There will be a VA Seminar at American Legion Post #36 in Boothbay on June 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.The day's focus will be on VA Care for the elderly and home-bound. Topics to be covered will include: Healthcare Eligibility, Community Care, Choice, Retired Military Healthcare and the VA, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Home Based Primary Care, Caregiver Support, Hospice and Palliative Care, Aid and Attendance, Pension, Filing for Service Connected Disabilities, and Maine Veterans' Homes.

 Vet Center's
40th Anniversary

On June 13th, Vet Centers across the State of Maine invite Veterans, active duty service members, their families and the general public to help them celebrate 40 years of the Vet Center's programs. See below for locations and event times:

Portland Vet Center 12:00  to 2:00 p.m.

Sanford Vet Center 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Bangor Vet Center 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lewiston Vet Center 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Northern Maine Vet Center 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

What's Happening

What: American Red Cross Family Reconnection Workshops
Where:
Togus VAMC - Building 205, Room 130
When:
May 22 and June 26 - 1700 to 1900
FMI: Call Joleen Lilley at 207-623-8411 ext 3078

What: Psychological First Aid Training
Where:
Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft
When:
May 24 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. - $35 registration fee (includes training, lunch and certificate)

What: The Maine Comedy All Stars 2019 Comedy Tour
Where:
The Lewiston Armory, 65 Central Avenue, Lewiston, ME
When:
Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m. - $15/pre-sale, $20/day of 
Tickets: https://pmcfsubmissions.ticketleap.com/comedy-fundraiser-at-the-armory

What: VA Seminar discussing health care and benefits
Where:
American Legion Post #36, 25 Industrial Park Drive, Boothbay, ME
When:
June 8 - 9 a.m to 12 p.m. (Light Lunch offered)

What:
Psychological First Aid Training
Where:
Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport, ME
When:
June 11 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. - $35 registration fee (includes training, lunch and certificate)

What: VA Town Hall
Where: St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 23 Church Street,
in Calais, ME
When: June 12th at 5:00 p.m.

What: Vet Center's 40th Anniversary
Where: 
Portland, Sanford, Bangor, Lewiston and Northern Maine (see above article for times)
When: 
June 13, 2019

What:
Veterans' Memorial Intertribal Pow Wow
Where:
Togus VA, Augusta, ME
When:
June 15 & 16 - Gates open at 10 a.m., Grand Entry 12 p.m., Closing 5 p.m.

What:
Free Horse Clinic for Veterans
Where:
Springpoint Farm in Durham, ME
When:
June 14, 15 and 16
FMI:
Call Bud McGrath at 207-926-5789 or go to veteranbarndoor.com 

What:
Veterans' Resource Fair  by the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
Where: Augusta Armory, 179 Western Ave, Augusta, ME
When:
June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FMI:
Call Stephanie Ham at 207-624-8564

What:
Cabin in the Woods Disc Golf Fundraiser
Where:
Bittersweet Ridge Disc Golf, 383 Gray Road, North Yarmouth, ME
When:
June 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
FMI:
Call 207-373-1140 ext. 211
 

   

 
 

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