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By Maine Bureau of Veteran Services
“Thank you for your service,” a meaningful sign of gratitude for veterans
communities across the state will salute servicemen and women, both past and present, on Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11.
Ceremonies will honor those who have made significant contributions to our country in times of war and peace, and for our veterans, this particular day may bring a flood of memories — both good and bad.
Throughout the year, we at the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services have the honor and privilege of recognizing the service of our veterans on a daily basis.
We hear their stories, we share in their joy, and we are empathetic to their struggles. As we reflect on the last year, there is one event in particular making a considerable impact, not only on the veterans in attendance but also on their families and those who work in public service at the bureau.
The Vietnam War “Welcome Home” ceremony Aug. 17 was a long overdue observance for a forgotten generation of veterans.
Fifty years ago, when these men and women returned home, they were ridiculed, disparaged and cast aside. Their homecomings were bleak, and a relatively simple “Thank you for your service” was unheard of.
Fast forward almost six decades and numerous intense conflicts later, our military veterans are experiencing a substantially different response from the American public — immense gratitude.
The veterans we work with appreciate the support and acknowledgement of their sacrifices made in service to this country. The bell rang, and they answered. They don’t consider themselves heroes — just Americans fulfilling their duty. Although Vietnam War veterans did not receive the warmest of homecomings, they are adamantly opposed to allowing another generation of veterans to be disregarded.
In the state of Maine, which has one of the highest numbers of veterans per capita, it’s important to know our veterans are not forgotten, nor will we allow it.
We are fortunate to have a rich tradition of military service in Maine. Despite not having an active duty military base in the state, the Maine Army National Guard and the Maine Air National Guard have more than 3,000 soldiers and airmen in current service.
The National Guard and Air National Guard are heavily deployed, more so now than during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The most recent deployment involved the 120th Regional Support Group deployed to Afghanistan several weeks ago.
Although we may not hear about our troops as often as we once did, our Maine service members and their families continue to sacrifice in silence for the defense of our nation.
In the coming months, we will serve as co-host to a first-of-its-kind event for Maine — the first Military Veterans Symposium. Recognizing the urgency of solving the complex issue of Veteran suicide, the VA Maine Healthcare System and Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services will bring together a variety of federal, state and local resources to focus on strategies to reduce the risk of veteran suicide.
At the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, we remain committed to leading Maine’s veteran advocate community in order to best serve our veteran population. Whether it is improving access to education opportunities, bolstering employment opportunities or facilitating access to healthcare and mental health programs, it is our responsibility to lead by example and honor our veterans’ legacy of service.
Our veterans have given us their best; it is our duty to give them ours. This coming Veterans Day be sure to thank a veteran for their service and sacrifice. Less than 1 percent of the population protects the liberties and freedoms of the remaining 99% — let us never forget that.
