AUGUSTA – The morning of the April 4 “Remember ME” 2008 photography exhibit and recognition ceremony at the State House, John Jalbert awoke at 7 a.m. and was ready by 8 a.m. to head to the capitol to receive a lifetime accomplishment award.

He then received the news from his long-term care facility that they would not be able to furnish the transportation to get him there. Determined to give him his due honor, Rep. Margaret Craven brought the award ceremony to him.

Jalbert was born in Lisbon and joined the Army when he was 18. He served in Europe during the Normandy campaign and the Battle of the Bulge campaign. He was deployed to the Philippines during the Philippine Liberation campaigns, and he was stationed in Japan when World War II ended.

When he returned from overseas, he married Francis, to whom he brought breakfast every morning for 40 years until her death. They raised four children. After earning his law degree, Jalbert worked in the Legal Division of the Maine Department of Transportation for 30 years. He also held many municipal offices over two decades in Lisbon, serving on the school board, planning and finance committees and the building commission.

Upon his retirement in his late 60s, Jalbert was elected to the state Legislature and held office for five terms, including two terms as House chairman of what is now the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. He was an advocate for veterans and assisted in commissioning four of the five Veterans’ Homes in Maine and expanding the Veterans’ Cemetery in Augusta.

Jalbert is one of 54 Maine residents who were honored at the sixth annual recognition ceremony for having “spent the best years of their lives making a difference for their families, communities, state and country.”

The event was organized by the Maine Health Care Association, a statewide association representing more than 250 adult day service providers, assisted living and residential care facilities, home health service providers, independent living and congregate housing providers, nursing facilities and rehabilitation and skilled nursing providers.