members of the Maine ARNG Select Honor Guard will post the colors. A great buffet will follow. The guest speaker will be Mr. Tom Desjardins, (the author of ?Stand Fast Yee Boys From Maine?). Tom will cover the events which occurred at the Battle of Gettsyburg. Special events will take place during the evening. To include the award of the Chamberlain stakes to the outstanding unit in the 52nd Troop Command. The introduction of members of the Alabama Army National Guard, who belong to a unit with linage to the 4th Alabama, which fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. During the evening a short business session will be conducted as required by society by-laws. Cost for the buffet is $21.00 per person, which includes tax and tip. Please make checks payable to: Maine Military Historical Society, INC. Checks can be mailed in advanced to: MAINE MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. ATTN: BANQUET CHAIRMAN, CAMP KEYES, AUGUSTA, MAINE 04330-0033 We are looking forward to seeing old and new friends to continue our important quest of preserving and showing Maine?s rich military heritage. FOR YOUR INFORMATION GRAY AREA RETIREES – For those of you out there that are gray area retirees, that have not reached the age of 60, will need to start your process early. It is now strongly suggested that any gray area retiree that is approaching age 60, should start their paper work process two years before that magic date of 60. COMMISSARY BEST VALUE ITEM (BVI) A new twist is coming to the commissary system in providing an even better commissary benefit and cut down on food costs. Effective 1 July, look for BVI items in your commissary. Detailed information at http://www.commissaries.com/ FALL AND WINTER AAFES CATALOG – The catalog will be available in your local exchange on 27 July. (27 July 1953 was also the day the cease fire took effect in Korea).

I know some of you will be traveling and taking vacations now that summer is here. In your planning don't forget the Armed Forces Recreation Centers that provide great accommodations at a very reasonable cost. They are: Hale Koa Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1-800-367-6027, or reservations@halekoa.com AFRC - Europe, Garmisch and Chiemsee, Germany - 1-800-GO-ARMY, or 011-49-8821-72981, or vacation@afrc.garmisch.army.mil Dragon Hill Lodge, Seoul, Korea - 011-82-2-790-1576, or reservations@dhl.korea.army.mil Shades of Green, Orlando, Florida (407) 824-3600. More information can be found at http://trol.redstone.army.mil/mwr/afrcs/index.html UPDATE ON KOREAN WAR SERVICE MEDAL – Here is a recent DOD New Release - U.S. veterans of the Korean War are now eligible to wear a medal initially offered to them more than 50 years ago, but never issued. In a May 13 letter to Defense Secretary William S. Cohen, Republic of Korea Defense Minister Seong Tae Cho formally announced that his government would provide the Republic of Korea War Service Medal to eligible U.S. veterans of that conflict, or to their surviving next of kin. The medal will be provided at no cost to veterans. The U.S. Air Force has been designated the lead agency to receive and distribute the medals. "On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War," Cho wrote, "the ROK government decided to issue the medal to pay tribute to the Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve freedom of the ROK and the free world." The two governments will conduct 50th anniversary ceremonies throughout 2000-2003 and medals may be applied for at any time during this period. The war began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded ROK territory. The armistice on July 27, 1953, ended the fighting, although a formal peace treaty has never been completed. The medal was originally offered by the ROK in 1951 to United Nations forces serving in Korea and adjacent waters. At the time U.S. law prohibited the U.S. military from wearing medals issued by foreign governments. Congress changed that in 1954, but by then most U.S. service members eligible for the medal had returned home. UPDATE SERVICE MEDAL – (Continued) In 1998 the government of the Republic of Korea renewed