BDN 2019 Veterans Day

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

REMEMBERING OUR VETERANS The men and women who defend the liberties and freedoms of the countries they represent hold a special place in people’s hearts and an eternal spot in their countries’ histories.

Any opportunity is a good time to commemorate the bravery and selfless deeds of military personnel, but certain prominent holidays in November make this an especially important time to thank veterans for their service.

November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada. It’s also known as Armistice Day in other parts of the world. These holidays honor all military veterans who have provided service to their countries, and that each falls on November 11 is no coincidence, as the day commemorates the anniversary of the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

Many places around the world pause and remember fallen veterans on November 11, but a good majority of Veterans Day and Remembrance Day commemorative events focus on past and current veterans who are still alive.

There are many ways to honor the military at home and abroad in time for the November festivities. The following are just a handful of ways to show appreciation for military men and women.

• When dining out, ask your server if you can pay the tab for a soldier or veteran you see in the restaurant.

• Attend a military parade with your family and explain the significance of the day to children in attendance.

• Draft letters and send care packages to soldiers currently in service far away from home.

• Ask your company if Veterans Day or Remembrance Day can be an observed holiday at your place of business each year to pay homage to servicemen and women.

• Visit a military memorial in a city near you. Your town also may have its own memorial.

• Petition town officials to erect a memorial if your town does not already have one. Such memorials can be a source of inspiration for your community.

• Support a military family in your town who may be missing a loved one

stationed elsewhere. Make meals, mow the lawn, help with grocery shopping, or simply provide emotional support.

• Volunteer time at a veterans’ hospital. You may be able to read with veterans or engage in other activities.

• Get involved with a military support charity that can provide muchneeded funds to struggling families or disabled veterans.

• Have children speak with veterans in your family, including grandparents, uncles and aunts or even their own parents. It can help them gain perspective on the important roles the military plays.

• Ask a veteran to give a commencement speech at a school or to be the guest of honor at a special function.

• Drive disabled veterans to doctors’ appointments or to run any errands.

• Support a local VFW organization.

• Create a scrapbook for a veteran in your life.

• Cheer for or thank military personnel each time you see them.

• Visit the veterans’ portion of a nearby cemetery and place poppies or other flowers on the graves.

• Always keep the military on your mind and never forget those who have served and didn’t return home.

Armistice Day, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day are great ways to honor past and current military for their service and sacrifice

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

CLEANING UP HISTORY Pair work to honor veterans one stone at a time

BY JODI HERSEY AND ANNE GABBIANELLI

While painstakingly cleaning, repairing and restoring gravestones in 30 towns and eight counties around Maine, Stu Kallgren of Maine Gravesite Maintenance and his business and life partner Sue Dunham have made a special effort to honor veterans through their work.

“Each time we work in a cemetery, we do at least one veteran’s stone at no charge. We call it the Honor Stone. It’s our way of giving back a little to the men and women who have given us freedom,” Kallgren said.

The duo worked on their first Honor Stone in 2017. “It was Memorial Day, and [the stone] just needed cleaning and leveling — or so we thought,” reminisced Kallgren.

Stu Kallgren and Sue Dunham at work restoring Maine gravestones.

PHOTO BY ANNE GABBIANELLI “Once we started to remove the earth supporting the stone, we found it had been puddled in a large bowl of cement. It took the two of us almost eight hours to remove and level the stone. Imagine leveling a bowl with a protrusion of three feet that was falling into the grave, which itself had collapsed. It was dangerous and time consuming, but when it was done it was very rewarding.”

The pair started the West Enfield-based business after cleaning some of their own family headstones and seeing how many others were in need of repair. As they dug deeper into Dunham’s family genealogy, they visited different cemeteries and saw many stones in various states of disrepair.

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

“We searched around to try to find someone to fix a severely leaning monument that was [memorializing] my great grandfather,” Dunham said.

“We called five different monument companies in two counties,” Kallgren said. “Four had no interest; one said they would help, but never showed up. Right then we said somebody has to do this.”

That’s when the couple’s research on cemetery preservation took them to Wethersfield, Conn., where they signed up for a class and began training in 2016. Kallgren, a heavy machine operator at the time, and Dunham, a paralegal for a local Bangor law firm, both eventually left their full time jobs to pursue the cemetery preservation business.

The professional cleaning involves a gentle scrubbing and washing, and using a small pick to clean the letters of moss and lichens that tend to grow on stones. The pair emphatically stated it is best not to use wire brushes, any chemicals or bleach.

“There is something that really bothers us about the care of the veterans’ stones,” said Kallgren. “Even though it is Maine law that these stones be maintained to certain standards, we daily find them dirty, covered in grass, leaves and debris, oil from lawn mowers, and in some cases the trees have been allowed to grow past these stones.”

While neither Kallgren nor Dunham is a veteran, they have many family and friends who are veterans, and they are intrigued with every gravestone they encounter.

“One of the more memorable locations was a little family cemetery of a Revolutionary War Veteran in Lowell about 200 yards in the woods,” said Kallgren. “Very often curiosity gets the best of us and we have to research a family or a condition mentioned on a stone — one of those times was in Winterport. We came across a stone that read: Lt. Comdr.

John A. Collett, Command-Torpedo Squadron 10, U.S.S. Enterprise, Lost - Battle of Santa Cruz, Oct. 26, 1942. That memorial stone is in a family plot with the Abbotts in Oak Hill Cemetery.” The Abbott plot consists of six generations — the largest number of generations the pair has come across in a family plot.

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Dunham’s past work experience as a paralegal comes in handy while the team gets their hands dirty. Intrigued by the plot of three doctors, all of the Abbot family, Dunham learned that the first Edmund Abbot MD arrived in Winterport around 1808 and “being a Harvard graduate in medicine, treated soldiers at the battle of Hampden.” This was at a time when a doctor got 50 cents for a house call.

“One of the children, Charles Abbott, became a well known surgeon with the Maine 26th regiment in the Civil War,” said Dunham. “It appears he witnessed the sinking of the Confederate warship Merrimac after being blasted by the Yankee warship the Cumberland.”

During Dunham’s quest to learn more, she uncovered that “as the Merrimac was going down, he swam out to it and retrieved a portion of the top mast as a souvenir. He returned home to care for the citizens of Winterport for many years to come.”

Not only is it the history of veterans, doctors, and battles that capture the duo’s attention, but they find the history of seafaring intriguing as well. A unique stone in Sandy Point Cemetery in Stockton Springs is one such example.

“It is a gorgeous black granite polished globe on a large granite base, a memorial of Captain Albert V. Partridge,” Dunham said. “The globe shows the many ports he visited during his days as a ship captain.”

Historical research and dirty, meticulous labor might seem like an odd choice for a second career, but the pair enjoy preserving Maine’s history and honoring those we’ve lost.

“While it is true that many cemeteries believe perpetual care is only for the grounds and that each stone is the belongings of the purchaser, many towns and cities do not want their cemeteries to be a [poor] reflection upon how the town and its people care for those who have passed before us,” Dunham said. “Benjamin Franklin had it right, ‘Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have.’”

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA RADIO For veterans, run by veterans

BY ANNE GABBIANELLI

“At the Wreaths Across America Headquarters and National Museum and out on the tip lands in Columbia Falls, Maine, I’m Michael W. Hale. That’s the latest live look at news and weather from Wreaths Across America Radio, online at wreathsacrossamerica.org.” That’s what you hear when you tune in online to Wreaths Across America (WAA) internet-hosted radio.

You may know of Wreaths Across America from its yearly trip to Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,600 other locations throughout the country, sharing Maine-made wreaths to be laid on veterans’ graves. However, Wreaths Across America Radio is actually run by another kind of veteran — broadcast veterans. Hale is one such veteran, bringing over 40 years of broadcast experience to “the air” Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m.

“We have veterans listening, but we also have patriotic Americans and many

Wreaths Across America volunteers are listening from all over,” Hale said. “We get a lot of feedback on how much they appreciate what we offer.”

Hale came out of retirement to join the radio team. “I was honored to have the opportunity to be part of the WAA mission to Remember, Honor and Teach,” he said.

Wreaths Across America Radio started in 2013 when WAA purchased streaming time from Maine Internet Radio (MIR). The programming then was music from military bands and patriotic singing groups. When Susan Patten, another broadcast veteran, joined WAA in 2015, she started producing feature stories and fostered the growth of this internet radio relationship.

“Our programming is refreshing, professional and filled to the brim with patriotism and gratitude,” Patten said. Today’s programming also offers live national and world news headlines, military and veteran news, information about

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

Michael W. Hale interviewing Peggy Haake, National President of VFW Auxiliary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA what’s happening at WAA, and many other special features 24/7. Wreaths Across America Radio is one of four stations of Maine Internet Radio.

The livestreaming radio station has strengthened WAA’s mission.

“What we currently have is radio programming that would compete with any station in my opinion,” said Amber Caron, director of communications for WAA. “This is something our executive director Karen Worcester always wanted — ad-free messages of hope and healing. They are done really well and are another tool to help us share the stories of our fallen and our dedicated volunteers beyond social media, the website and newsletter.”

Because the streaming was a success from the start, Patten recruited veteran broadcaster and musician Brian Nadeau for volunteer voiceover work, and Kim Mitchell, the current tech-savvy owner of MIR. Continued on page 10

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

In Loving Memory Of

In Loving Memory Of

U.S. Army - Yankee Div. Field Artillery

Who served on the USS Franklin CV13 during World War II

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1ST S LT. GUY F. HUNTER

In Loving Memory Of

In Loving Memory Of

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Fought with pride and honor in France, WWI, for our great nation, that he loved so deeply

Love and missed by his wife, Faith; and daughters, Kathi and Karen

He bravely served his country.

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Who proudly served our nation in the Army Air Corps, ultimately retiring as Lt. Col. in the US Air Force

Love, miss and proud of you.

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Who proudly served our nation as a Specialist 5 in the U.S. Army

Who proudly served our nation in the U.S. Army Air Force in the Pacific during WWII.

We love you.

Wife, Wif Linda; and daughter, Tanya nya y

In Loving Memory Of MSgt. RYAN LOVE

March 7, 1978 - July 19, 2012

They say that times a healer, but as the time goes on, we seem to find it just as hard to face the fact you've gone.

You'll never be forgotten and every day we shed a tear, but it's only because we love you and wish you were still here.

22 years in the U.S. Navy Gone but still in our hearts.

Love, Lov Mom; sister, Cathy, and John ohn hn

Who served in WWII Company E, 120th Infantry European Theater Campaign, Battle of the Bulge.

Daughter, Alice A. Mills, granddaughters gr ra Lisa & Trudy and family milly

From your Maine family Rhonda & Bert, Dennis & Regina, Raye & Luther, Rachael & Dan

From, Nancy, Brian and Heidi

In Loving Memory Of

BG DAVID J. ALLEN US Army First Cav Div

RIP Dave

THANK

IRENE B. INFERRERA

May 31, 1918 - Oct. 22, 2005 Lt. in the U.S. Army

Served as a nurse in Taunton, England, in the 67th General Hospital during WWII.

IIn Honor Of My Daddy, My Hero

JOE LOZIER

You served our country well and with pride.

We are proud of you and miss you dearly.

Your brother, Capt. Arthur Allen USA (Ret) and wife, Bonnie P. Allen.

Sadly mis sister, Ba brother-in b

TSgt. 101st Refueling Wing MEANG TS NG G

to all Ve for your and sa

The Bangor

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JOHN CASHWELL “Pops” 2 Tours Vietnam; Desert Storm; Maine National Guard

Thank you for all you've done.

Thank you for all you do.

Love, Your Family

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

Memory Of

I am proud of our threee gen vice i generations of military service

In Honor of

ANKLIN D. HWICK

BONNIE SAWYER

4-2015 Retired. r mechanic, r Vietnam Awarded Air nd Airmans edal.

In Memory Of A

UNKNOWN SOLDIER

In Loving Memory Of my brother

In Loving Memory of WALLY SAWYER

LARRY W . LEIGHTON Who served our country in the U.S. Marines in the Vietnam War

1LT PETER DUSTON

US Army-ret, still serving as an Honor Guard Bugler; daughter,

SSG ERIKA YATES,

Flight Paramedic - MEARNG;

ssed by his arbara and n-law, Bob b

grandson,

SA SAVAGE BLOOMER,

Who served our country as a Major in the Army Nurse Corps

veteran, father and grandfather A proud pr p th her

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In Loving Memory Of

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Jan. 5, 1935 - Feb. 24, 2001

Korea 1950-1954 U.S. Navy

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In Loving Memory Of

K YOU

“Known but to God” buried in the most remote corner of the American Normandy Cemetery

ROLAND J. NADEAU

LOWELL W. VOSE JR.

JESSE P. WOOD

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GEORGE D. THORNDIKE

Who served with the U.S. Army, Yankee Division during World War I.

eterans r service acrifice.

Daily News

Who proudly served in the U.S. Air Force flying jet fighter planes over Korea and Vietnam.

Wife, Doris; and children, Susan, Jeffrey and Sally

In Honor Of

ARTHUR D. HENRY

94 yrs old WWII Veteran, 45th Thunderbirds Infantry Division Thank you with love, Your children and their families

Who proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy on the USS New Jersey during the Korean War. We love you & miss you, your family W

In Honor of

TOWN OF HOLDEN EMPLOYEES WHO PROUDLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

We are very proud of you!

Love, your family

In Loving Memory Of

LAWRENCE 'BUD' LYFORD

RICHARD AMON MORSE

Farmer and Woodsman Northport and Belmont, ME 1925-2009

Missed by his daughter, Faith T. Roberts; a granddaughters, Kathi and Karen enn and

Pvt. 1st Class - Co. E 123rd Infantry, Rifle Squad U.S Army - World War II Military Police - Japan 1945

In Loving Memory Of

BERNARD R. STAPLES

2nd Lieutenant, United States Army Air Force, 1945

In Honor Of

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DAVID R. BLACK THOMAS COPELAND BRUCE DOWLING KENNETH DOWLING JAMES DOYLE RYAN FREEMAN ROBERT HARVEY NATHAN HASTINGS GARY HUFF TIMOTHY TRUE ARTHUR UNOBSKEY Thank You from the Holden Town Council

Who proudly served our nation while serving in the US Navy during WWII.

We think of you often brother, and miss yyou.

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Greatly missed by your love ones. Wounded in Germany, Combat Infantry, receiver of the Purple Heart.

Remembering you every day and especially on this Veterans Day. Gloria and children

Who honorably served his country during the Vietnam War.

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

Continued from page 7 “I provide assistance with anything technical, such as making sure the stream is working optimally, remote setups, putting together the automation, and uploading streaming content,” said Mitchell. “You need a rock-solid high speed internet connection.”

The live broadcasts are either from Hale’s home studio or somewhere on the road, such as the convoy-journey to Arlington National Cemetery for National Wreath Day in December.

The automated programming is chock-full of variety. “We’ve slowly transitioned from rather bland and nondescript stream into a full-fledged radio station online,” Patten said.

Aside from live morning radio programming, the broadcast continues with pre-recorded presentations such as “Trucking Tributes,” airing on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., featuring professional drivers and trucking companies who support the mission of delivering wreaths. On Monday and Friday evenings from 8 to 9 p.m., you can hear “Military Musicians Showcase,” produced and hosted by Susan Patten. Wednesday and Sunday evenings from 8 to 9 p.m., your host is Brian Nadeau bringing you “The Music That Got Us Through World War II and Vietnam.”

Many of these broadcast veterans are also musicians incorporating their special touch into each broadcast.

“Volunteering for Wreaths Across America Radio is my small, humble way to say thank you to our precious veterans,” Nadeau said. “It pales in comparison to their deep sacrifices, but to share my appreciation in any small way I can, hopefully lets them know some of us never forget and are so grateful.”

Patten says Wreaths Across America Radio is quite unique. “Our music format is a mix of classic and modern country, bluegrass, and rock. We play a lot of music performed and produced by veterans and active duty.” She noted that recently Wreaths Across America Radio showcased the successful performing group Voices of Service, which appeared on the television program “America’s Got Talent.”

Wreaths Across America Radio not only serves veterans and volunteers but is a venue for

Cathy Powers in Delaware running while live on the air with Wreaths Across America Radio.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

people like American Gold Star Mother Cathy Powers of North Carolina. She’s taken to the pavement this year, running to raise funds for 7,777 wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery, marking the days her son, 21-year-old Senior Airman Bryce Powers, was alive.

While running through Delaware in September, she gave a live interview with Hale promoting her quest to honor veterans. However, Powers has not been running alone. It seems wherever she shows up, she has volunteers ready to join her through their towns and states, with Wreaths Across America Radio tracking her success.

Like Powers, Wreaths Across America Radio is often on the road. “In September, we broadcasted from George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Va.,” said Patten. She, Hale and Caron hosted a live stream video at a fundraiser sponsored by

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

Freightliner Trucks for WAA Arlington and the Special Forces Charitable Trust. The next mission is in December for the annual wreath-laying ceremonies.

For Patten, in particular, telling stories while on the road has become so much more than simply her duty. “I share the stories of our amazing volunteers, veterans, and active duty military using photography/videography, writing, and broadcast skills. We’re promoting volunteerism and community building for all the right reasons. Remember the fallen, Honor those that serve, and Teach the next generation to value our freedom.”

For more about Wreaths Across America, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.

History from wreathsacrossamerica.org/our-story.

(Below)

THE STORY BEHIND WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year-old paper boy for the Bangor Daily News when he won a trip to Washington, D.C. His first trip to our nation’s capital was one he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. This experience followed him throughout his life and successful career, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season.

Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s

veterans. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.

The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet.

Suddenly, the project received national attention. Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their own national and state cemeteries, or to simply share their stories and thank Morrill Worcester for honoring our nation’s heroes.

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

MILITARY MEMORABILIA

AND THE VETERANS WHO COLLECT

BY JOSHUA ARCHER

For two Maine veterans, the reasons they began collecting military memorabilia may differ, but underneath it is the importance of remembering history and to not forget those who served to protect our country.

HONORING VIETNAM VETERANS

For John Bouchard, a Marine and Vietnam War veteran, it was a meeting of the Fort Kent Veterans of Foreign Wars that ignited a several year mission to collect photographs of every Maine military personnel who died as a result of the Vietnam War. Bouchard was told that once he finished collecting each photo, the collection would be put on display at a new educational building soon to be constructed in Washington, D.C. Bouchard began with veterans from Aroostook County and then went on to the rest of the state.

John Bouchard of Fort Kent a Vietnam War veteran stands outside the Caribou Veterans Cemetery alongside his collection of 343 photographs of Maine veterans who died as a result of the Vietnam War. PHOTO BY JOSHUA ARCHER “I really got into it and I couldn’t stop,” he said. “I continued for the whole entire state and I got 343 in the entire state of Maine.”

With help from the internet and his fellow VFW members, Bouchard collected the names, phone numbers and addresses of each veteran’s remaining family and loved ones to help track down a photo and stored them in a binder. But not every picture was quickly found with the click of a mouse. Often, Bouchard would go and meet with family members face-to-face, hoping they may be able to help him with his mission.

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

“It was really emotional because a lot of the guys I did know,” he said. “And then I talked to some families, which was emotional.”

Once, he gave his phone number to a member of the VFW who knew a remaining relative of a veteran he still needed a photo of. Days had passed until he finally received a call from the veteran’s sister who was surprised at Bouchard’s request.

“She told me she thought everybody forgot about her brother. I said to her nobody forgets another veteran,” he said.

After six years of legwork, Bouchard had several binders full of hundreds of photos of Maine veterans along with pages of information accompanying each print out. All of the work he funded himself.

Bouchard wasn’t alone in collecting photos for D.C., he said. There were other folks just like him, busy gathering images for their states. But the pictures destined for a new educational building in never made it. Bouchard said that by the time he had finished filling binders with photos of deceased veterans, the plans for the new building were scrapped due to a lack of funding.

Bouchard completed his mission two years ago, and for now, he is the sole guardian of the binders.

“I got a lot of people suggesting I should bring all the binders to either Augusta or Bangor or a college somewhere, but right now I have them here at the house,” he said.

“I have to put them somewhere. If I happen to die, I don’t want these pictures to be thrown away.”

While Bouchard is disappointed about the lack of funding for the display in Washington, D.C., he is open to showcasing the collection elsewhere. Have an idea?

Email specialsections@bangordailynews.com. Suggestions will be passed along to Bouchard in hopes of one day having his collection on display for the public.

Continued on page 14

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

A SIGNATURE COLLECTION

Dan Bruno of Van Buren, a Vietnam War veteran who spent almost three decades in the military with service in the Air Force and Army, spent little time at home with his wife and kids during his career but still found a unique way to connect with his son. “I came up with a hobby, a father and son hobby, of not collecting baseball cards, but writing letters to famous people, actors, and of course a lot of military people,� Bruno said.

Bruno and his son Christopher, at the time a high school freshman, wrote their first letter to Bob Hope, requesting a signed photograph. “Sure enough, Bob Hope sent me an 8-by-10 with a comment to my son and me, and that’s where it began,� he said.

Along with letters to celebrities from Bruno’s childhood (which included Fess Parker, best known for his role as Davy Crockett in the Walt Disney TV miniseries) were members of the military. “To this day I’ve probably received about 500 autographs,� he said.

Many framed photographs with inscriptions, and binders containing hundreds more, fill areas of his home dedicated to his collection.

Bruno will gladly show you his collection, which includes autographs, pictures and letters from important figures throughout history such as Charles Lindbergh, who helped place the first of two U.S. flags on top of Mount Suribachi; William Birch, a bombardier in the Doolittle Raid; Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the Enola Gay; Desmond Doss, the conscientious objector who received the Medal of Honor; General William Westmoreland, the commander of U.S. forces during the Vietnam War; along with many more.

When Bruno was an Army recruiter he would often reference his collection to high school students and tell them of military leaders and Medal of Honor recipients with the hope of instilling leadership qualities.

Dan Bruno of Van Buren, a Vietnam War veteran, among his military memorabilia pointing at a signed photo of Desmond Doss receiving the Medal of Honor.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA ARCHER He said at the top of his collection are the memories and images of his father who served overseas during World War II. “He was given a Purple Heart because he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge where he got wounded. He was my hero,� he said.

It has been some time since Bruno has added to his collection. His kids are all grown up and have moved away. He stopped collecting almost 20 years ago. And at that time he kept track of how much his collection might be worth and estimated that the hundreds of autographs might fetch upward of about $20,000.

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

HELP A NEIGHBOR

HOW TO HELP

A VETERAN IN NEED

Unfortunately, many veterans return home with injuries that affect their ability to make it through a typical day without assistance. Disabled veterans may be unable to do their own grocery shopping or maintain their homes. If a neighbor or nearby veteran is facing such hurdles, offer to do his or her shopping or mow his or her lawn. Such tasks won’t take much time but can make a world of difference to veterans.

Millions of men and women serve in the military and make the sacrifices that such service requires. Risking their lives to serve their countries, veterans sometimes endure mental and physical trauma, returning home to face uphill battles as they deal with their injuries.

OFFER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE

Many veterans in need are not just in need of medical attention. Learning that their efforts and sacrifices are recognized and appreciated by the ordinary citizens they protect can make a world of difference to veterans as they recover from their injuries. Men, women and children who want to help veterans in need can do so in various ways.

EMPLOY SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP LOCAL VETERANS.

VISIT A VETERANS HOSPITAL Contact a local veterans’ hospital to inquire about their volunteer programs. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that each year more than 75,000 volunteers spend more than 11 million hours in service to America’s veterans. Visiting veterans at the hospital to hear their stories can lift their spirits and aid in their recoveries. In addition, veterans’ hospitals may have volunteer opportunities that make it easier for hospitals to operate at optimal capacity.

Professionals who want to help veterans can offer their services free of charge. Accountants can offer to prepare veterans’ tax returns for free, while attorneys can provide legal advice to veterans who need it.

Contractors can help disabled veterans by offering to make alterations to their homes for free or at cost.

Many people who want to help local veterans might not be able to do so more than one day per week. But some veterans may require daily assistance. Men and women can start a locally-based Facebook group for fellow members of their community who want to pitch in to help local veterans. Such a group can make it easier to share information and arrange help for veterans in need.

Many veterans return home from serving overseas in need of help.

Offering such help can improve veterans’ lives while letting them know their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated.

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VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2019

UMA: A WELCOMING PLACE FOR MILITARY SERVICE

PERSONNEL, VETERANS, & THEIR FAMILIES COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT AUGUSTA At the University of Maine at Augusta, veterans and active duty military personnel will find a wide range of courses, degrees, and services available to them at campuses in Augusta and Bangor, at nine statewide UMA Centers, and online.

Since the University’s founding in 1965 when a sign that read “Welcome Veterans” encouraged Vietnam-era veterans to enroll, UMA has continued a tradition of supporting military-experienced students. Currently, UMA has over 300 students that are using federal education military and veteran benefits.

The Veterans Academic Center (VAC) on the Augusta Campus is a key component and a notably visible element of UMA’s allegiance to veterans and their families. First opening its doors in November 2017, the VAC provides dedicated space for UMA’s veteran student population, and serves as a place to study, write and print papers, take online exams, or just hang out with friends. Designed in a thoughtful manner with an eye to improving accessibility for those who use the space, the VAC is the hub of activity almost every day. Most importantly, the VAC provides a safe environment and place for fellow veterans to seek and lend support to each other and interact with the UMA Office of Military and Veterans’ Services staff.

On the UMA Bangor Campus, a newly refurbished Veterans Lounge provides students and staff with a dedicated space to study before or after class, as well as seek support from

fellow veterans. Located on the third floor of Belfast Hall, the lounge is an important part of the Bangor Campus.

Amy Line is a UMA alum, adjunct faculty member, a Navy veteran, and Director of Military & Veteran Services at UMA. Line helps students navigate veteran benefits and resources. She was instrumental in securing the private grant funding which allowed for the creation of the VAC. Having this dedicated space allowed the Veterans Administration to fund and locate four VA peer mentors at UMA. This fall at UMA’s Convocation, Leo Porter, a US Navy Veteran, was recognized as a Rising Scholar. “If it were not for the VAC, I would not be here working towards a degree in Computer Information Systems, or actually a major in CIS with a minor in Cybersecurity,” stated Porter, who is a Lead Peer Mentor at the VAC. “Those who serve share a common bond. Having the VAC provides a place to find someone who understands your experiences and is able to support you.”

UMA’s commitment to educating and providing opportunities to veterans, service members, and their families has earned it the following designations: Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine; Best for Vets by Military Times; and Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.

Learn more at uma.edu/veterans.