AUGUSTA (AP) – A bill to ensure better health screening for Maine soldiers, prompted by the death of a Maine National Guardsman in Afghanistan last year, was signed into law Monday by Gov. John Baldacci.
The state’s highest duty is to protect the health of its citizens, especially its military personnel, Baldacci said during a State House ceremony.
The new law creates a commission to review preventive health treatment practices, vaccinations and other medications given to members of the Maine National Guard.
The bill was introduced at the urging of Barbara Damon-Day, the mother of Patrick Damon, a Maine Army National Guard captain who died in a non-combat situation last June after being deployed with his unit to Afghanistan. Damon had been a legislative staffer who was known to many lawmakers.
“The loss of Pat is still vividly painful,” Baldacci said. “We honor his memory with this law.”
Damon-Day, who also spoke at the bill-signing, said its enactment “guarantees … my son’s service will never be forgotten.” She has said previously that her son’s death may have resulted from the series of vaccinations Damon received before his deployment.
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, has introduced a similar federal bill.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.