100 Years Ago: 1924

Recognition of the importance of women on the farm has led the American Farm Bureau Federation this year for the first time to include both men and women in its home and community work.

Another sign of recognition is the resolution adopted at the federation’s last annual convention, urging that women be placed on all governing boards of the bureau, so that the whole program -social, economic, legislative and marketing – may be worked out by men and women together.

50 Years Ago: 1974

Two Lewiston women, Mrs. Eloise Moreau, director of the city’s Senior Citizens program, and Mrs. Jeannine Sabat, are among those assisting at the Senior Citizen’s Volunteer Recognition Day Tea at the Blaine House, tomorrow.

Mrs. Kenneth M. Curtis will welcome some 150 persons to the Tea being held for the second year. Among those to be honored will be volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program, the Nutrition Program, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, SSI- Alert and VISTA. The invited guests represent more than 1,000 volunteers active throughout the state.

25 Years Ago: 1999

A soldier whose medals from World War II and the Korean War were lost 38 years ago has his Purple Heart again.

Harry Blanchard, 83, thought he would never see the medals again after they were lost in transit while he was returning from Germany after retiring from the U.S. Army in 1961. Blanchard was injured by a Jand mine during World War II and served in the Korean War.

But his son-in-law went to work last year after learning how much the medals meant to the re- tired soldier after Blanchard nearly died from a heart attack.

Rick Alexander spent the last year trying to convince the Army to issue new medals for his father-in-law. Finally, Alexander e-mailed Gov. Angus King, whose office notified Sen. Olympia Snowe, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The material used in Looking Back is produced exactly as it originally appeared although misspellings and errors may be corrected.