American Legion Post #36

Wed, 11/23/2022 - 9:15am

This is Thanksgiving week and I am sure much will be writing about what everyone is thankful for. While my list is long, family and health top the list. I am sure what I am thankful for is what most everyone else is thankful for as well, to live in this great country, to being part of this awesome community, and all the friends who are there whenever I am in need.

But, let me just add one group that often times don’t get the recognition they should but without whom this country would come to a screeching halt; that is VOLUNTEERS. I am only aware of few of them in this community but let me see if I can mention some organizations that are primarily made up of volunteers … all our churches, Boothbay Community Resource Council (including the Woodchucks), Knights of Pythias, Masons, Lions, Rotary, the American Legion family, Veterans Emergency Temporary Shelter (V.E.T.S.), DAR, Boothbay Region Land Trust, the many volunteers with the YMCA, the Railroad Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, can’t forget our volunteer fire departments, and other first responders and those who support them. And these are just some of the ones that I know. What would our community look like without the dedication of our volunteers? So, THANK YOU all!

Let me also give a special THANK YOU to all those who donated last week to Honor Flight during the News Center Maine telethon! At last count, over $175,000 has been donated and the checks are still coming in. With the addition of these donations, at least 100 veterans will have the experience of going with their brothers and sisters in service to see their memorials in 2023. If you are a veteran of any era, deployed or not, and you haven’t signed up to go you are missing a great experience if you don’t. Go to www.honorflightmaine.org.

All the holiday decorations are in place at Togus for the Holiday celebration on 1 December. This year the Holiday Lighting Ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. at Building 207. Togus employees will be “parading” around from building 200 starting at 3 p.m. ending at Building 207. There will be entertainment and refreshments to ensure the residents of the Community Living Center (hospice, nursing, and dementia floors) have the best possible holiday experience. Come and enjoy the fun and lend your voices to the Christmas carols!

Game night is this Friday, 25 November. This is open to the community! Want to learn how to play cribbage, or Mahjong, come and learn. Bring a foursome and play bridge or pinochle. Or, just come, relax, and hang out with others. Doors open at 5 p.m., BYOB and snacks to share.

The Post will be having a fund-raising spaghetti dinner for Ian Michaud on 3 December from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Your support will be sincerely appreciated!