Statewide programs and resources for veterans

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 9:15pm

Bill Deptula served on the USS Missouri in 1948. He said he was not part of the signing of the treaty ending the war that took place on the famous ship, but he was in the spot where it happened. This photo was taken at the Camden Hills Regional High School National Honor Society’s Veterans Day breakfast in 2014. (Photos by Chris Wolf)

Here is a listing of all the local Veterans Day events happening in and around the Midcoast this year. You will find information on local events, parades and veterans' resources at the state and local levels.

Sunday, Nov. 8

The Military Appreciation Club at the University of New England will be visiting the Maine Chance Veteran Family Retreat grounds on November 8, to help the Travis Mills Foundation further its mission to rehabilitate and renovate the property for veteran families.

The students will help prepare buildings for winterization and clean up the grounds.

The Maine Chance Veteran Family retreat is the vision of retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, 82nd Airborne, who was critically wounded in 2012 while serving the U.S. on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. Travis is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. Fundraising efforts have begun in earnest to renovate the iconic homestead. Upon completion of extensive rehabilitation, the property will become a fully-accessible, “smart home” facility dedicated to serving the recreational and reintegration needs of combat-wounded veteran families. FMI: travismills.org.

Tuesday, Nov. 10

ROCKLAND: Rockland District Middle School Veterans Day Assembly

Rockland District Middle School will be holding its traditional Veterans Day breakfast and assembly Tuesday, Nov. 10. The school is at 30 Broadway Rockland.

All veterans are welcome and encouraged to attend. Breakfast will start at 8 a.m., in the library. The assembly will start at 9 a.m., in the gymnasium.

History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs. What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate veterans on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to mark the end of World War I, which officially took place November 11, 1918. In 1938, the U.S. dedicated November 11 "to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'"

As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, and at the urging of veterans service organizations, Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans."

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov. 11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day, but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

Source: military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day

Wednesday, Nov. 11

ROCKPORT: National Honor Society Veterans Breakfast at Camden Hills

The National Honor Society of Camden Hills Regional High School cordially invites American veterans and their families to its seventh annual Veterans' Day Breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., in the Wave Cafe at Camden Hills.

Music, speakers, and a wonderful breakfast prepared by our Food Services Director, Susan Boivin, will be provided. This breakfast is free for all attendees.

Contact advisers Sara Cole at 236-7800, ext. 224, or Tom Gray at 236-7800, ext. 323 if you have any questions.

BELFAST: Veterans Day Parade

Commander Jim Roberts, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Commander Wayne Cookson, of the American Legion, are inviting all to the Veterans Parade in Belfast.

Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, the high school band, police, and fire trucks will be marching from Belfast Area High School to the waterfront, where a ceremonial wreath will be laid, and a short prayer for our service men and women will be held,.

"Step off" from the High School is at 11 a.m. (the ceremony is always on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) and will conclude after a prayer.

UNION: Paul Marshall talks about being a medic in World War II

Union Historical Society and Vose Library are cosponsoring a special Veterans Day program, to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Vose Library, 392 Common Road, Union.

Paul Marshall, of Hope, will talk about his World War II service. Marshall grew up in Patten but encountered a very different world in war-time Europe, where he served as a combat medic with a rifle platoon for three years. His memoir, A Maine Boy Goes to War, describes the life-changing experiences of Marshall and the “boys” in his unit, as well as his later family life as an educational Christian missionary in the Pacific islands of Micronesia. Now 91 years old, Marshall is a retired United Methodist minister who has served several churches in Midcoast Maine. Copies of Marshall's book will be available for purchase. There is no charge for the program and refreshments will be served.

CAMDEN: Village Green service and visits with veterans at Quarry Hill, Windward Gardens and Camden Villa during the afternoon

Camden American Legion Post 30 is inviting all veterans, friends and families to join them on the Village Green to observe 30 minutes of silence beside the Camden War Memorial on the Green.

An honor guard of Post of 30 members will be present at 11:30 a.m., and will assume the position of attention in front of the Memorial and will maintain that position until the clock tower strikes noon.The Honor Guard will then form on Elm street and march the short distance to Chestnut street where they will turn and disperse in front of the Post Office.

All are invited to join in remembering all local veterans past and present. Call Jeff at 691-2270 for more information.

ROCKLAND: Sixth annual Veterans Day readings at the Dowling Walsh Gallery

Program begins at 2:00 p.m. Call 594-0947 for more information.

Sunday, Nov. 15

Northport VFW: lunch program at noon.

Belfast Post #43: lunch program at 2:00 p.m.

Call Rosey at 975-5432 for more information.

Friday, Nov. 20

Hospice/Veterans Partnership Conference

The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End of Life Care, in partnership with the Togus VA Medical Center, will hold the 2015 Hospice/Veterans Partnership Conference: ALS and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases: What we need to know; what we need to share. Drs. John A. Taylor and Roger Sher will keynote the day.

Taylor is a neurologist with Mid Coast Medical Group in Brunswick. He graduated from the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine and is board certified in internal medicine/neurology/clinical neurophysiology.

Sher is assistant professor of molecular and biomedical sciences at the University of Maine in Orono. His research has been committed to studying the complexities of biological systems for improving human health, with a lab focus on neurological and muscular degenerative diseases.

There will be panels featuring a variety of speakers covering a range of topics including insights and recommendations from patients and family caregivers, community resources, and non-medical therapies. The panel members will share experience and insights into diseases that are often challenging, for patients, families and caregivers alike.

This conference is recommended for family members, health care providers, veterans, students, Hospice staff and Volunteers, clergy, counselors and other members of the public interested in the rising incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in the veteran population.

Ongoing

AUGUSTA — More than 100 employers have committed to hiring veterans at the half-way point of the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign. The goal of the statewide initiative is to commit at least 100 employers to recruit veterans and with the result of at least 100 veterans hired. Through Oct. 28, 118 employers are participating, with 64 veterans having been hired, including the full municipalities of Auburn, Poland, Portland and Scarborough.

Employers are sought to expand the hiring of veterans, to include a network of state and federal agencies, resources, and nonprofits; education on military language and culture; assistance with recruiting, hiring, assimilation and retention; a Veteran Hiring Toolkit and recognition for the hiring and advancement of veterans.

Success Stories
Veterans hired include the story of a homeless veteran with a wife and two young girls, who not long ago were living in a tent. Through the Maine Hire-a-Vet Campaign, he is now working for SME Corp., a construction company in Lewiston, as a metal worker and making $15 per hour. The veteran's wife is now also working, and they look to be able to move soon into an apartment.

ME Corp. regularly hires disabled veterans to give them a chance at a great job, and the Hire-A-Vet Campaign allowed them to connect with a larger veteran population.

Washington-Hancock Community Agency, a nonprofit Community Action Agency originally hired a homeless female veteran as a temporary/seasonal intake specialist for the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program. The veteran and her two children had relocated to Maine, but when they arrived, she couldn't find work.

Washington-Hancock Community Agency was able to provide temporary financial and case management services through Supportive Services for Veteran Families funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to stabilize their housing situation.

"Through the SSVF program we have temporarily housed the veteran and her children while we find her permanent housing and assist her in paying a Security Deposit and up to six months rent to get her stabilized," said Bobbi Ann Harris, special projects/human resources director for WHCA, in a news release. "A great example of how connecting several resources can help our veterans."

By late September, the veteran was promoted to a full-time position.

Assistance for Employers
More than 80 Maine Hire-A-Vet employers recently took part in Military Culture 101 training in Augusta and Freeport. The attendees received education on the veterans' perspective on discipline, loyalty, following orders and giving direction, problem-solving and more. They also learned how a veteran's experience can transition to the workplace.

Veterans’ employment representatives are available throughout the state and can visit employers to assist them in finding qualified veterans and provide information on the benefits of hiring veterans. Employers or veterans can contact Campaign Coordinator Lewis Bradford at 207-561-4051 or email lewis.r.bradford@maine.gov for more information. Employers and veterans can also contact their local CareerCenter. A list of CareerCenters is available at mainecareercenter.com.

The campaign focuses on jobs paying at least a wage of $12 per hour, but all employers with jobs at all pay levels are welcome. Participating employers are not required to hire veterans they interview to participate in the campaign.

Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter: #MaineHireAVet.

The Maine Department of Labor and its CareerCenters, Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, Hero2Hired, Veterans Inc., VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, VA Veterans Homeless Program, VA Office of Rural Health, and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services are co-sponsoring this campaign. All partners will be focused on recruiting both veterans and employers.

Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.