PARIS — Local veterans agencies and support organizations will participate in annual Veterans’ Day celebrations sponsored by Foster Carroll American Legion Post 72 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9787 and held at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Nov. 10.
Among those expected to participate are: U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s office, Veterans Benefits Associations (VBA), U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Martin’s Point Health Care, Maine Veterans’ Home South Paris, Mission Working Dogs of Oxford, Honor Flight Maine, VFW Auxiliary and Legion Auxiliary.
The groups will have representatives on hand to share information about health and support benefits available to all honorably discharged veterans. This is the second event the two Paris-based posts have organized this year.
Jo Ann Hill of Norway served as Hospital Corpsman, HM3, in the U.S. Navy. Supplied photo
“We assist veterans with all types of issues,” Kim Rohn, casework manager from Rep. Golden’s office. Rohn acts as key liaison between individuals and federal agencies, a role she has held for 19 years. “Anyone having problems with a bill, obtaining appointments, travel reimbursement or overpayments, or help with service-related claims, obtaining records and medals and assistance with widow’s benefits and applications.
“We are always happy to have veterans and their families reach out to our office with any VA related issue.”
Rohn works out of Golden’s Bangor office and can be reached at 207-249-7400.
Matthew Mank, board chairman for Honor Flight Maine will also be in attendance.
“The mission of Honor Flight Maine is to take Maine Veterans to Washington DC to tour, experience, and reflect at the monuments erected in their honor and in memory of those who have passed since their military service,” Mank told the Advertiser Democrat in an email statement. “While on a trip, a Veteran gets to visit Ft McHenry, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Military Women’s Memorial, the Marine Corp Memorial (AKA the Statue of Iwo Jima), the US Navy Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial.”
Mank noted the support Honor Flight Maine has received from Oxford Hills, including a spaghetti dinner at VFW Post 9787 organized by 2023 graduates of OHCHS, Julia and Ashley Gay, that brought in more than $9,100.
“With over 450 veterans on the waiting list, the continued support of local communities is very much needed and appreciated by the Veterans whose lives are touched by Honor Flight Maine,” Mank wrote.
To learn more about signing up for an Honor Flight Maine visit to Washington, DC, volunteering or supporting its mission, visit their website at www.honorflightmaine.org (www.honorflightmaine.org) or call 207-370-7210.
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