I guess I have to start this article by congratulating Army for their defeat of Navy on the football field last Saturday! So, now the series stands with Navy winning 62 games, Army winning 55, with 7 ties. Air Force beat Navy this year but Army beat both Air Force and Navy so they win the Commander-in-Chief trophy. This trophy was established in 1972 and since then, Air Force leads with having the trophy 21 times, Navy 16, and Army 10. It is interesting that the game was play this year in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, and on the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. So, congrats to Army … but, Navy will move our winning number to 63 in 2024! What is truly great about the Army-Navy game is that while they fight their hearts out on the field, when the game is over, each team goes to the opposing side of the stadium and give their respect to the other’s alma mater which happens shortly after the end of the game. And, until the next year’s game, they are all brothers committed to serving their country. 

The Fishers House opened on the Togus campus in August 2021. This facility was built to be a 5-star quality hotel to provide free lodging to military and veteran families while their loved ones are receiving medical care at our Medical Center. In October, 2022, a serious construction problem occurred requiring the Fisher house to close. In 1990, Mr. Fisher, a wealthy philanthropist and patriot, recognized that veterans heal faster when their families are close by. Wanting to do something about that, he formed a partnership with DOD and then the VA, that if DOD provided property on their medical facilities (later VA facilities), he would build high quality hotels for veterans and families to stay for free.  And, when they needed upgrading, he would do that free to DOD/VA as well. The Fisher Foundation was formed to make this happen. There are currently 96 Fisher Houses around the country and in the UK and Germany. Now, back to our Fisher House. After considerable engineering studies, it was determined that our Fisher House could not be repaired. So, now the VA is looking for another location suitable to rebuild a new Fisher House. There will be no cost to the VA as the Fisher Foundation and the others involved are dealing with the financial issues. In the meantime, the Fisher Foundation is covering the cost for those families who would have been eligible to stay at the Fisher House to stay in local hotels. Let us hope that they find a suitable location and the new Fisher House will once again be available. 

The Legion Hall will once again be the location for the Community Christmas Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Don’t forget to make reservations by calling 633-7195. 

Now to get back to Christmas shopping … thank goodness for Amazon!