By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer

MECHANIC FALLS – Even as he led the million-member Disabled American Veterans, Ed Heath never became a big shot.

A whimsical collection of mementos in a corner of the Mechanic Falls American Legion post, where his memorial was held Monday, told the man’s story. Beside photos of the bearded small-town lawyer with presidents and big-league ballplayers sat a cheap bottle of wine, a bingo card and a cribbage board.

“There was no ego in him,” said Craig Sargent, a longtime friend. Yet, he said, he helped so many.

More than 200 people – friends, family and prominent veterans’ leaders – gathered Monday to say goodbye to Heath, who died March 9 at the age of 65.

Among the attendees were James Sursely, the group’s current national commander, who asked people to take comfort in the knowledge that Heath’s own disability may have given him insight into death itself.

A native of Weld, Heath served in the Army in Korea and was working as a recruiter in Kentucky when he was hurt in a catastrophic car crash.

After the accident, he went back to school, first becoming a teacher and then a lawyer. He went to work with the Veterans Administration, working to see that veterans received help for their injuries.

It was a job he continued, one way or another, for the rest of his life.

“He wanted to help these guys because he was one of them,” said Sargent. “He understood what they went through.”

And Heath was good at wading through the bureaucracy.

In 1989, he went to work as part of the Disabled American Veterans staff. One year after retiring in 1996, he began rising through the DAV’s elected ranks, becoming the national commander in 2002.

All the time, he watched over veterans, in Maine and around the country.

“A veteran who had Ed working on his claim was a very lucky veteran,” said Arthur Wilson, the national adjutant of the DAV.

He described Heath as “relentless” and “a very, very smart man.”

Meanwhile, friends remembered the man who spoke endlessly of his family and who loved baseball.

Behind the table of souvenirs sat his crutch, leaning against a chair. Propped on top was a World Series baseball cap.

Heath had seven children, 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was married to Sylvia Heath for more than 30 years.

For Monday’s service, the family sat together surrounding Sylvia, who was presented a flag at the end of full military honors. An honor guard from the Maine Army National Guard and a color guard from American Legion Post 150 were both present.

“He was a small-town boy who made good,” Sargent said. “It’s rare, very rare, that someone reaches the top of one’s profession.

“Eddie did,” Sargent said.

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