CHELSEA — Tim Buckmore is delighted by his new digs, even if the cable TV hasn’t arrived yet. Until this summer, Buckmore, 57, was one of dozens of homeless veterans living in Maine. Now he’s among 19 veterans who have moved into small houses on a quiet corner of the VA Maine Healthcare System-Togus campus. For […]
veterans
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Angus King supports push for cannabis for veterans
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s independent senator says he is getting behind an effort to research how medicinal cannabis could help veterans. Sen. Angus King is part of a bipartisan group of legislators that wants to authorize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to advance research about the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis for veterans […]
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Posted inObituaries, sj-web
Lavonne Marie Thomas
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Lavonne “Vonnie” M. Thomas, 82, passed peacefully surrounded by close friends after a short illness on Saturday, Aug. 11. Vonnie was born in Gilbert, Idaho, on March 24, 1936, to Elmer and Myrtle (Phar) Bell. Vonnie was raised on a farm and following graduation from Nezperce High School, she attended the University of […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Family housing to be built at Togus
TOGUS — Gary Burns knows how long it takes to get from Aroostook County to the VA Maine Healthcare System-Togus. It’s a good four-hour drive. So the addition of a Fisher House at the Togus campus on the Augusta-Chelsea line is welcome news for Burns, an advocate for veterans through his position as national service […]
Posted inConnections, Lewiston-Auburn
Sampson vets to meet
The August informal monthly get-together of the Southern Maine Squadron of the Sampson AFBVA will be held at noon on Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Village Inn, Auburn. This is a gathering of veterans who went through basic training at Sampson AFB and their guests. Any and all veterans are welcome to attend. Sampson was […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
State cemetery for veterans may offer green burials
AUGUSTA — The iconic image of a veterans’ cemetery, which can be seen from Normandy to Arlington, has white headstones aligned with military precision in perfect rows in a carefully groomed setting, a place of honor meant to last the ages. That picture is, however, changing. The Maine Veterans’ Cemetery System, which has four state-run […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Flags retired at Liberty Fest service
LEWISTON — The Liberty Fest held a Salute to the American Flag and Retirement Ceremony on Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Park to commemorate and properly dispose of American flags that are no longer serviceable. Miss Maine 2018 Olivia Mayo sang the national anthem to open the ceremony, and then the three large flags that […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Veterans could lose Medicaid coverage
I had the honor of serving in the U.S. Army on active duty for four years. When I got out, I was fortunate enough to be healthy, but that meant I, like most other veterans, did not qualify for VA health benefits. As many as 3,000 such veterans will benefit from MaineCare expansion when the […]
Posted inOxford Hills
Oxford to become a 'Military Friendly Community'
OXFORD — Selectmen unanimously agreed Thursday night to move forward on becoming a “Military Friendly Community.” The designation would show military members that the community actively supports military in part by placing a designated, volunteer point of contact in the community who will be available to direct active and recently honorably discharged military personnel to […]
Posted inConnections, sj-web
Veterans to get free access to Maine State Museum
AUGUSTA — The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services has announced changes to the Maine Resident Lifetime Veteran Park Pass. Starting Sunday, July 1, all veterans may access the Maine State Museum, free of charge, upon showing their Maine Resident Lifetime Veteran Park Pass. The scheduled change will take effect due to the passage of L.D. […]