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Local area reps. call on community to support Maine women veterans
August 17, 2010
AUGUSTA – Maine women veterans were recognized at a ceremony at the State House to unveil the design for a plaque honoring Maine women in the service. Democratic representatives Tim Driscoll, Linda Sanborn and Rob Hunt are helping to raise funds to pay for the plaque to be made and then permanently placed in the State House prior to Veterans Day.
“The call to serve our country during peacetime or war has always been taken up by women of Maine,” said Driscoll of Westbrook. “This commemorative plaque is one way we can show our appreciation for their selfless dedication in ensuring our freedom and safety.”
There are 10,000 women veterans in Maine. Silver commemorative coins in the likeness of the plaque will be gifted to all Maine women veterans.
“We are reaching out to the veteran community to help locate Maine women veterans and raise awareness and funds for the plaque,” said Hunt of Buxton. “Even small contributions will go a long way to showing our appreciation for the sacrifices these women have made.”
The 124th Legislature passed a resolve to arrange for a plaque to be placed in the State House Hall of Flags in a prominent position among existing plaques honoring veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The plaque design depicts Maine women who served in different U.S. military capacities over four centuries. This included the 18th Century Revolutionary War patriot Hannah Watts Weston; 19th Century Civil War nurse Emily W. Dana; 20th Century WWII Army Air Force Service pilot Patricia A. (Chadwick) Erickson; and 21st Century Maine Army National Guard soldier Sgt. Annette M. Bachman.
The plaque will be funded through private donations. Maine Veterans’ Services is hoping to raise enough money to have the plaque made and ready for dedication prior to Veterans Day in November 2010.
“It is important to honor all of our veterans, and all too often, the women of our armed forces get overlooked,” said Sanborn of Gorham.
A portion of the contributions will be tax deductible. Those interested in sending donations, should mail checks to Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Service, 117 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0117. Checks need to be made payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine. For more information, call Rep. Linda Valentino, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, at Rep. Valentino or 207-205-0077.
Contact:
Amy Watson Saxton, legislative aide, 287-1430
Jodi Quintero, communications director, 287-1433