AUBURN – Donald W. Linscott, quartermaster, Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., has announced that the Maine VFW, the oldest nationally chartered veterans organization will hold the 88th state convention Friday through Sunday, June 13 to 15, at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.

Representing the national organization will be Past Commander-in-Chief from Connecticut Edward N. Banas; Past President of the VFW Auxiliary 2000-2001 Patricia Jankowski; National Councilman District 1 Mike Farrell of Perry; and National Councilwoman District 1 Barbara Sawyer of Gorham.

Scheduled to address the delegates of the 14,000 members and their Auxiliary at the opening ceremonies at noon on Friday are Lewiston Mayor Larry F. Gilbert Jr.; Gov. John E. Baldacci; Adjutant General Major General John W. Libby; Sens. Olympia Snow and Susan Collins; Congressmen Thomas Allen and Michael Michaud; new Togus Medical Center Director Brian Stiller; Maine Veterans Home CEO Kelly Kash; and Maine Bureau of Veterans Services Director Peter Ogden.

Also attending will be Frances Booth of Old Orchard, the only past national president of the Auxiliary from Maine.

The annual memorial service in memory of veterans and auxilians who died from July 1 to May 31, 2008, will be held.

The VFW and Auxiliary will hold annual meetings and nomination and election of officers at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The afternoon will feature several events, including a patriotic rally at noon and the Tree of Hope Ceremony, in remembrance of the MIA/POWs from all wars. The commanders’ and presidents’ reception will be from 4 to 5 p.m. and the annual convention banquet will start at 6:30 p.m. Special membership awards and community activity awards will be presented during the banquet.

The convention will conclude on Sunday with the installation of officers by Banas assisted by Farrell and the Auxiliary members will be installed by Jankowski assisted by Sawyer.