WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Thor Gabrielsen and his mother, Michelle, of Rockport in her Washington, D.C., office last week. Thor is a sixth grader who was visiting the capital to participate in the National MathCounts competition.

"I am always delighted to welcome Mainers to my Washington, D.C., office," said Senator Collins, in a news release. "It was wonderful that Thor represented Maine in the MathCounts competition, which features hundreds of top mathletes from across the country. Math is an invaluable skill, and Thor's mastery of it will provide countless opportunities later in life."

In 2011, Thor learned that his neighbor, Roland Richards, was never given the medals he had earned through his service in World War II. Thor wrote to Senator Collins, whose staff worked with the National Personnel Records Center to obtain the proper documentation so that Mr. Richards could receive his long overdue awards.

"I was so impressed by Thor's letter to me five years ago, which revealed that he is a generous and kind young man," Senator Collins continued. "It was a great honor to help him assist Mr. Richards in obtaining the long-overdue medals he had earned."

Richards received the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal; World War II Honorable Discharge Lapel Pin. The awards were presented to him at a Veterans Day ceremony on November 10, 2011. He passed away in February 2012.