With Maine holding the honor of being the “oldest” state in the nation, it is only proper that we honor our seniors by dedicating the second Saturday of September as Maine Seniors Day.

Our seniors play an important role in Maine’s quality of life. Because seniors are staying healthier and living longer they contribute more to our Maine way-of-life than ever before.

Seniors are working longer, serving as role models with great worth ethics. They serve an important role as volunteers for organizations that play a vital role in our communities.

Maine has the highest senior volunteer effort in the country, with 34 percent of all volunteers being seniors, compared to 29.3 percent nationally.

We have a lot to thank our seniors for, and honoring our seniors with a special day in their honor is the least we can do. After all, with age comes wisdom, making Maine the “wisest” state in the nation.

John E. Nale, Waterville

Past president, Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging