Veterans Day 2023 by Bangor Daily News

Veterans Day

A Special Advertising Section of the Bangor Daily News • Saturday, November 11, 2023

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

THE GIFT OF FISHING

TOGETHER BY GENIE JENNINGS

or many veterans and children there are few activities as enthralling as catching fish. Since 2014, these two groups have had an opportunity to share this sport together at an annual fishing derby in southern Maine held by the American Legion Riders Chapter 47 of Rollinsford, New Hampshire. My husband Stan was a veteran, and this derby became an annual tradition for our family. The American Legion Riders host the event as a way for veterans to spend time with their children and grandchildren. We were able to bring all three of our grandchildren to the derby at various times. It was an opportunity for each of them to fish with their grandfather. He spent hours teaching them how to use a bait-casting and, later, a spinning rod, just as he had taught their mothers. For the derby, John Lapierre generously donates the use of his field and private pond on Pigtail Lane in Berwick. While the pond is home to native sunfish and hornpout, hundreds of rainbow trout are purchased for the derby. They are strictly put-and-take as they would not survive in the pond environment for long.

Fishing is limited to only veterans and children, although families are encouraged to attend. And they do. Encircled by family groups with a variety of e qu ipment including chairs, umbrellas, shade tents, fishing rods, and tackle boxes, the pond is a scene of excitement from the beginning horn at 9 a.m. until the ending Stan and Genie Jenningsʼ grandchildren fishing horn at 11 a.m. Before with their grandfather at the annual Veterans and after the official and Children Fishing Derby. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY L. PRATT derby, while parents set up their enclaves and chat, many children either climb along the banks looking for the enormous bullfrogs who also inhabit the pond or follow the small outlet stream. The more fishing-minded attend to their rods and bait. A multitude of volunteers work constantly to make the day a happy one for the attendees. They direct the parking of cars and trucks on the huge field, sign in contestants, measure fish, clean fish, serve coffee and doughnuts in the pre-derby hour, grill hot dogs and burgers, serve lunch and give out prizes after the fishing ends, clean up and make everyone who comes feel welcome and wanted. Traditionally, the event occurs on the first weekend in June, however, this year, it was delayed until Oct. 7. The Veterans and Children Fishing Derby was always a delightful day for my husband and our family. It was a place to fish that almost, although not entirely, ensured there would be catching involved. Anyone who fishes learns that it is a process that does not necessarily have a product; our grandchildren understand this. However, there is a lot to be said about the satisfaction of having something on the other end of the line. For most of the years that we attended, Stan was able to help with the preparation, baiting, and unhooking. He had Parkinson’s Disease, and things became increasingly difficult for him. During our last derby in 2022, he could do little more than sit in a folding chair and watch. Still, it was a gift to him that I deeply appreciate. It is a gift to every veteran and family who can participate.

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

MAINE VETERAN FINDS NEW MISSION

RAISING SERVICE DOGS BY JODI HERSEY

rmy veteran Christy Gardner of Oxford doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit. This now 41-year-old was working as a military police officer in Asia when she was badly injured in 2006. She came home without her legs, but the loss only fueled her determination to find another way to serve her country. During rehabilitation, Gardner was paired with a service dog named Moxie, who helped her rediscover herself and her true calling. “It’s so rewarding to see the difference they [service dogs] make in a person’s life,” Gardner said. “Moxie helped me get out, get me active and engaged more. She helped me get my independence.” Moxie was so much more than a service dog for Gardner; this 85-pound Golden Retriever helped her find a new mission in life — breeding and training service dogs for others. In 2020, Gardner created Mission Working Dogs, a nonprofit that breeds and trains PTSD service dogs and mobility assistance service dogs for veterans and civilians in need. CONTIN UED ON PAGE 8

Christy Gardner and Doug PHOTO COURTESY OF JODI HERSEY

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

MARTIN’S POINT HEALTH CARE A Proud Tradition and a New Partnership Serving Maine’s Military Families COURTESY OF MARTIN’S POINT HEALTH CARE

very November, the observance of Veterans Day offers a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the debt of gratitude we owe to the members of the military and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country. At Martin’s Point Health Care, this holiday holds special meaning, as our connection with the military community in Maine and beyond reaches back to more than a century and a half ago. In the mid-1800s, the Marine Hospital located on our Portland campus was established to care for ill or injured seamen and coastal lighthouse keepers and their families. The facility also served as a Union hospital during the Civil War and later as a Military Treatment Facility for Coast Guard and other military beneficiaries. More recently — over the past 40 years — Martin’s Point has remained committed to supporting military families by providing high-quality health care in Maine and New Hampshire, and offering TRICARE® health coverage to military families throughout the Northeast. Last year, this long-standing and deep connection was highlighted with a new partnership with The Summit Project (TSP), an organization honoring Maine heroes who have died while in military service for our country. TSP holds two signature events each year where hikers climb a significant Maine peak, each carrying a memorial stone etched with the name of a fallen soldier whose personal story is shared at the summit. Each hiker is tasked with researching the soldier they hike for and following up with the soldier’s family with their thoughts on the experience after the event. Two Martin’s Point employees — Stacey Pardales and Kimberly MacDonald — participated in TSP’s hiking event in Baxter State Park. Because both Stacey and Kimberly work closely with military families through their roles with the Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan, they were eager to participate. Stacey enrolls members in the health plan and helps many veterans with financial assistance for health care. Kimberly travels much of Maine, helping families secure health care coverage and talking with military members before and after they deploy. “The military is a close-knit family,” says Stacey. “And this project is all about Maine soldiers.” “Out in the field, I hear a lot of stories about loss,” adds Kimberly. “We work with military families every day. They understand the commitment they make when they raise their hands, but this project brings it home to your heart and makes it so much more real. The families thank us, but it’s really us that should appreciate them and find more ways to give back.” In further support of TSP, Martin’s Point invited family and community members to attend the ceremony of installing their Honor Case at our new health care center in Brunswick, located on the grounds of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The TSP Honor Case is a living tribute holding, protecting, and displaying memorial stones provided by each fallen service member’s family to commemorate and honor a treasured life lost. “Nine years ago, TSP promised the Maine Gold Star families we would ensure their loved ones would never be forgotten,” says Greg Johnson, Executive Director of The Summit Project and a veteran himself. “That drives our mission every day

but it can only be accomplished by the selfless and unwavering support from the people of this community.” Martin’s Point was proud to be able to provide just that support. “We were so pleased to have the opportunity to foster our employees’ involvement with the TSP hike and to host the Honor Case. We’re honored to be able to help raise awareness of these special men and women who gave so much for our country,” said Paul Kasuba, MD, President and CEO of Martin’s Point Health Care.

To learn more about how Martin’s Point Health Care serves military families through their TRICARE Prime option — the US Family Health Plan — as well as through employee volunteerism, visit MartinsPoint.org/Tribute. To learn more about how you can get involved in honoring our fallen Maine heroes, visit TheSummitProject.org.

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

CONTIN UED FROM PAGE 3 “They have all their basic obedience skills and what they learn now is actually carrying the groceries or getting you what you need. If you drop their leash, they don’t take off. They hand it back to you,” she said. “They can also fetch a wheelchair and pull a wheelchair, remind you to get your meds, or fetch your meds.” This October that nonprofit expanded to include a wheelchair accessible training facility where clients are able to live for two weeks getting to know their dog and all the skills their service animal has acquired. Although Moxie unfortunately passed away, a life-size statue of her sits at the center of the training facility as a constant reminder of Gardner’s calling. Now a new four-legged companion named Doug is at her side helping Gardner continue with her work. “There’s an incredible need. I had no idea it would grow so fast and evolve so fast,” Gardner said. “We get four or five applications a week for service dogs that take us two years to train.” Gardner doesn’t work alone. She also has an army of helping hands. “We have 64 incredible volunteers. These folks come to class. I show up with a bus full of dogs and hand them a leash and they walk these dogs through a class I lead.” One of those volunteers is Gardner’s mother Norma Heidrich-Crowell. “I have seen two veterans that have gotten dogs and the changes it’s made in their lives brings tears to my eyes,” Heidrich-Crowell said. “To watch someone who was virtually housebound now go out in public and do things. I am absolutely blown away.” Gardner says it costs around $14,000 to breed, raise, care for, and train a service dog. Mission Working Dogs asks candidates approved for a service dog to fundraise $4,000 for their animal.

“They can raise the money on their own or we have several fundraisers a year they can participate in. So if two or three candidates help at a particular fundraiser, we split those funds evenly between them toward the cost of their dog,” Gardner said. All of the dogs at Mission Working Dogs have patriotic names, something deeply important to Gardner who has truly found an honorable way to continue serving her country outside of a uniform. “I needed a way to continue to serve and again I saw the difference Moxie made for me, so I wanted to pay it forward to others.”

To learn more, visit missionworkingdogs.org

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

UMA – WELCOMING MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR OVER 55 YEARS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT AUGUSTA

t the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA), veterans and active duty military personnel will find a wide range of courses, degrees, and services available to them at campuses in Augusta and Bangor, at eight statewide UMA Centers, and online. Since the University’s founding in 1965 when a sign that read “Welcome Veterans” encouraged Vietnam-era Veterans to enroll, UMA has continued a tradition of supporting military-experienced students. Currently, UMA has over 200 students that are using federal education military and veteran benefits. UMA’s commitment to educating and providing opportunities to veterans, service members, and their families has earned it the following designations: Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine; and Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report. Popular programs for veterans include Aviation, Applied Science, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, and Cybersecurity. Earlier this year, UMA’s Private Pilot Training program was approved for Veteran benefits as appropriate. This means that eligible veterans can complete their flight courses from Private Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor with UMA. Most programs are available completely online, an area of expertise for which UMA is also recognized. While delivering college courses online may be new for most institutions throughout the U.S., UMA has been a leader in distance and online education for more than 30 years. Online classes at UMA are facilitated with state-of-the-art videoconferencing software and a Learning Management System such as Brightspace. Many faculty

members allow students who are not be able to attend at the scheduled time to participate by viewing lectures recorded from class and collaborate with classmates to complete and share work. UMA’s previous 30 years have demonstrated the vital role that technology can play in delivering education outside a traditional classroom, and thereby making education accessible to those who seek to obtain their degree, while maintaining work and family commitments. As technology improves, so does the level of engagement between professors and students, as well as the ease of access. When not completing courses online, the Veterans Academic Center (VAC) on the Augusta Campus, and a Veterans’ Lounge on the Bangor Campus, provide dedicated space for UMA’s veteran student population. These areas provide a safe environment and place for fellow veterans to seek and lend support to each other and interact with the UMA Office of Military and Veterans’ Services staff. Amy Line is a UMA alum, adjunct faculty member, a Navy veteran, and Director of Military & Veteran Services at UMA. Line helps students navigate veteran benefits and resources, and was instrumental in securing the private grant funding allowing for the creation of the VAC and its opening in late 2017. UMA will continue to pursue cutting-edge technologies and seek opportunities to provide high quality education and student support to veterans and others in fulfilling its mission of making higher education accessible to those in Maine and beyond.

Learn more at uma.edu/veterans

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

A HIDDEN RETREAT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES BY ANNE GABBIANELLI

One of seven cabins at the Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center. BDN FILE PHOTO/LINDA COAN O’KRESIK

n the shores of Great Pond in Aurora, tucked away in the Maine woods, stands a beautiful retreat with a long military heritage. “My first visit to Great Pond was as a child with my father who served in the Army,” said Maranda Thompson of Levant, a 26-year member of the Air National Guard. “Great Pond is an amazing place. Whether you like to tent, camp in an RV, yurt, or rent a cabin there is something for everyone there.” Thompson is among the countless active and retired military personnel and their

families and Department of Defense civilians who appreciate Maine’s Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center. The center is part of a network of military recreation centers in the United States. In 1933, Bangor businessman John Norris purchased the property to host a private sporting camp. After his passing in the 1950s, the property was donated to the Air Force. The idea was to provide a recreation spot for personnel stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor. It was named the Dow Pines Adventure Center.

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

When the Base closed in 1968, the center transferred to the jurisdiction of Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, and when Loring closed in 1994, the center did too. But in less than 10 years, the area was revitalized, according to Jeremy Lambert, Public Affairs Officer for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. “The property was transferred to the Navy and Naval Air Station Brunswick in 2001,” Lambert said. “The Navy received funding to rehabilitate and expand the camp. It was renamed Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center and reopened in 2003. Following the closure of NAS Brunswick, the recreation facility became part of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s area of responsibility. Today, Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center, with its 375-acre nature reserve and variety of lodging and recreational activities, makes the perfect getaway into the beautiful Maine woods.” The year-round respite offers a variety of lodging options including cottages, cabins, lodges, yurts, campsites, and a tiny house, all at a subsidized rate. Recreational opportunities abound, including fishing all year. For some, visiting Great Pond has become a tradition. Jon Godfrey, a former Army Recruiting Station Commander in Ellsworth, still visits twice a year. Godfrey and his wife travel from northern New York every summer and winter, and remember when the center was still the Dow Pines Adventure Center. “Since the U.S. Navy took over, the facilities are — wow,” Godfrey said. “Incredible and even better while maintaining the natural beauty. We used to RV all over the country and I will say the RV camping is comparable to the best I have seen nationwide. Truthfully, the staff makes the difference; they are kind, friendly, and go out of their way to help you make your stay the best.” Retired Navy veteran Cindi Bailey of Winslow recently discovered Great Pond. “I really never knew it existed until two years ago,” Bailey said. “I met up with

Retired Navy veteran Rick Kipp of St. Brunswick and his dog Theo enjoy ice fishing at the Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center where Kipp and his family spend a week every year. BDN FILE PHOTO/LINDA COAN O’KRESIK

other women veterans while there and it was fun to join them for the weekend. Great Pond is different because they cater to the military, and I even take a day trip to enjoy the trails and scenery. I feel like I am with my people.” Ray Richard, another retired Navy veteran, enjoys the Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center with his fiance, whose roots go back to the Loring Air Force days. “Every one there has or is currently serving our nation,” Richard said. “No other campground has that. Military heritage runs deep in both of our families and we are immensely proud of that. To those who haven’t yet been to Great Pond, we would say it’s a must if you want to stay at a beautiful place run by great people who have a deep connection with everyone there.”

VETERANS DAY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • November 11, 2023

MAINE TROOP GREETERS OFFER A WARM WELCOME AT BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

COURTESY OF BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

he Maine Troop Greeters have a longstanding history with the Bangor International Airport and are known worldwide for their efforts in giving U.S. soldiers a cheerful greeting upon their return home and a proper sendoff as they head out to serve our country. It all began on a winter morning in March of 1991, after a large and spirited group of citizens drove to Bangor International Airport to welcome home plane loads of returning Troops from Operation Desert Storm. That morning, a U.S. Army Airborne Sergeant borrowed a local high school student’s saxophone while his crew was here for a refueling stop. By nightfall, his emotional rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” had been broadcast around the globe, thrusting Bangor, Maine, and the volunteers later known as the Maine Troop Greeters into the limelight. Day or night, rain or shine, it is the commitment of the Troop Greeters to welcome each Troop that stops at Bangor International Airport. They accomplish this by being here to offer free cell phones to call a loved one, a snack to keep them going, and handshakes to let the men and women of the U.S. military know that Mainers care. The organization was officially incorporated as a registered non-profit in 2008. The group agreed on this guiding principle: “The mission of the Maine Troop Greeters is to express the Nation’s (and our) gratitude and appreciation to the Troops, for those going overseas for a safe return and for those returning for a joyful homecoming and to make their (hopefully brief) stay in Bangor as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Additionally, we will honor the trust placed in us by these troops by preserving and perpetuating the donations entrusted to our care, through display, education, and sharing of these collections.”

Located on the second floor of the Domestic Terminal at Bangor International Airport, The Maine Troop Greeters Museum is open weekdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Preserved within the Museum is a large collection of military memorabilia that has been donated by troops as they have come through the Airport. This includes a display of more than 6,200 Challenge Coins, which are cataloged and viewable in an online database. It is believed that this collection of military Challenge Coins is the largest in the world. The Troop Greeters are actively recruiting new members! Joining this meaningful volunteer program is easy. Simply visit the Troop Greeters Museum on the second level of the Peter R. D’Errico Domestic Terminal at the Airport. There you can access all the necessary information, forms, and contact information for the Membership Committee. Although the duties of a volunteer may vary, the goal is always the same… to thank our Troops for their service and to give them a little piece of Bangor’s finest hospitality to carry with them.

The Maine Troop Greeters is an all-volunteer organization funded through in-kind and monetary donations. All donations are used to provide food, amenities, and services for the Troops deploying and returning through Bangor International Airport. For additional information on how to become a Troop Greeter or to make a donation, visit their website: themainetroopgreeters.com.