Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Downs a Success
Image
The Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services (MBVS) held four successful Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Downs in Ellsworth, Augusta (Togus), Portland, and Sanford, and served a total of 75 veterans and their families (44 who were homeless and 31 who were at risk).
MBVS was proud to join partnering agencies: Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Maine Healthcare System, Vet Centers, Maine Department of Labor, Sport Clips Haircuts, Maine Veterans In Need, Operation: Brotherhood, Veterans Inc., Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, Preble Street, Discovery Behavioral Health, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Lunder-Dineen Health Education Alliance of Maine, Veterans Emergency Temporary Shelter, the Elks.
A special thanks to the Elks for providing veterans' lunches, Cabela's Scarborough store for the discount they provided on winter boots and their donation of heavy socks, and to the VFW Department of Maine for winter clothing and boots and all the logistics needed to get the items to our four events courtesy of Jim Bachelder. 

Vote in Honor of a Veteran
Image
Maine's Vote in Honor of a Veteran program was created by former Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky as a “Promote the Vote” initiative for the 2000 General Election. Because of the program's popularity, as well as the events of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath, the program continues. It offers two unique ways for individuals to recognize the military service of a friend of relative.

The Book: Maine Remembers Those Who Served is a collection of tributes to veterans. Covering over 250 years, the book chronicles the contributions of servicemen and women in all branches of the military, celebrates their selfless dedication and commitment to military service, and honors the legacy of their defense of democracy.

Now available online, Maine Remembers Those Who Served serves as a special way to honor a veteran. The collection shows appreciation for all who helped preserve our freedoms, including our right to vote. It is our way of saying “thank you.” New tributes can now be added to the book's online version.
The Button: "I'm voting in Honor of a Veteran" is personalized with the name of a veteran the voter wants to recognize for his or her sacrifices to ensure our important freedoms, including the right to vote. In 2000, over 10,000 citizens honored someone who had served, or is serving, in the military. Maine voters paid tribute to a grandfather or grandmother, father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter, husband or wife, or a neighbor, friend or fellow veteran. Limit 3 buttons per address.

In The News

Image

Unhoused ME vets are getting help from 'Mobile Stand Down' events | newscentermaine.com 

Image

Vietnam Veterans Feel Welcome Home | The Lincoln County News


What's Happening

November 1 - National Veterans and Humanities Arts Day at the State House - Hall of Flags at 2:00 p.m.

November 9 - Boots2Roots Workforce Attraction Summit, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Cumberland Club, 116 High Street, Portland. FMI - https://boots2roots.org/events/

November 11 - Veterans Day

Events:

Southern Maine

Falmouth: Ceremony at the Falmouth Veterans Memorial,
11:00 a.m.

Stars & Stripes Brewing Co., Freeport: Live music and a food truck at veteran-owned and operated brewery that donates a portion of its proceeds to veterans’ organizations and is marking its third anniversary, Noon to 6:00 p.m. 

Portland: Small parade from Longfellow Square to City Hall, followed by a wreath laying from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Westbrook: Ceremony at Riverbank Park, 11:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.

Thornton Academy, Saco: Ceremony with veterans’ groups from Saco and Biddeford, featuring student music and an alumni speaker from the Travis Mills Foundation, 11:00 a.m. 

South Portland: Parade from Southern Maine Community College and Broadway to Mill Creek Park, 10:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. 

Central Maine 

Bates College: Ceremony at Bates Veterans Plaza, led by the Multi-faith Chaplaincy, 9:00 a.m. 

Lewiston: Dedication ceremony for a new monument at Veterans Memorial Park, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.; special viewing for a veterans exhibit at Museum L-A, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Augusta: VA Maine Healthcare System (Togus) Veterans Day commemoration 8:00 a.m. at the Flagpole Commons in front of Building 200 (the hospital).

Augusta: Road rally at the Augusta Civic Center from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. 

Bangor & Brewer: Veterans Day parade organized by the Bangor High School Junior ROTC, beginning at Brewer Plaza at 10:15 a.m.

Waterville: Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park with the American Legion, 11:00 a.m. 

Midcoast

Brunswick: Wreath-laying at Veterans Plaza with local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars groups,
10:45 a.m.

Waldoboro: Local veterans will ring the Revere Bell at the Waldoborough Historical Society museum, 10:30 a.m.

Northern Maine

Caribou: Ceremony at Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery,
1:00 p.m.  

November 12 – 9th Annual Veterans Day 5K Road Race, Saturday 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Elks Lodge, 356 Bald Hill Road, Wells, ME. Proceeds benefit Honor Flight Maine. To register online go to RunSignUp.com/Race/ME/Wells/VD5K

November 19 - 1st Annual Run for Heating Oil 5K supporting the Maine Veterans Project. (391 North Main Street, Brewer) Registration: 8:00 a.m. , Start time: 9:00 a.m. 

November 24 - Thanksgiving Day

Image

 

Click here to unsubscribe from our newsletters

imageimage