The Boothbay Region Veteran’s Banner Program sponsored by Post 36 is gaining momentum. All four Boothbay Region peninsula towns are participating and will be honoring their veterans with 30” x 60” banners that will be mounted on area telephone poles. Veterans connected to the region from 1941 through the present, both living and deceased are eligible for a banner. If you are interested in sponsoring a banner for yourself or a loved one, please contact your town’s representatives:

Sue Burge - Boothbay and East Boothbay- (207-350-1581); Phil Chapman - Boothbay Harbor- (207-380-7020); Joel Morley - Edgecomb- (207-798-1288); or Sarah Sherman - Southport- (207-633-7161).

This past week, Healthy Lincoln County held two events in support of International Overdose Awareness Day in the Boothbay area; an afternoon on the Common followed by an event at the Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church. In 2022 there were 716 deaths, including veterans, in Maine caused by overdose. Post 36 was one of the sponsors for this event because we have been part of the effort to reduce the daily loss of veterans due to suicide and addiction is often either the cause or the method of suicide. Speakers at the event addressed what is being done in the state to address this epidemic and we heard from those who have recovered from addiction.

One of the speakers was VHA Togus Director Tracye Davis. I learned shortly after Ms. Davis became the Togus Healthcare director that she had a specific interest in veteran mental health and specifically in veteran addiction. During her three years as our director, she successfully achieved VA approval to build a Veteran Residential Treatment Facility on the Togus Campus. Many veterans needing treatment don’t seek it because it meant leaving the State and going to a VA facility in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York or elsewhere.

One of the speakers who has recovered from addiction was an USAF veteran who struggled in the transition from the service and became an addict. She talked about the illness that it is and her recovery. She contributed her recovery on the help she received at the VA, her family, and the community. She is now helping others trying to recover.

This event intended to create community awareness, to destigmatize addiction, to educate and to underscore that it takes the involvement of the everyone to make a difference. My takeaway from the event is there is a focus on prevention which starts with the kids and families. And, there is a focus on supporting recovery efforts. As we said when we served it takes a team and we are a team. Recognizing someone struggling with addiction isn’t someone to run from, but someone to reach out to. This might not be a direct involvement but ensuring the professionals are aware. My only disappointment of the event was the lack of attendance from the community. One of the conditions of the Post sponsorship was that this not be a stand-alone event. I hope we will hear from our community leadership and volunteers committed to finding solutions during the year and know that the Post will do our part.