Thirty-two local veterans were recognized for their military service Nov. 7 at the Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor. After the dinner, all the veterans introduced themselves and explained their military service. This year, two also took time to thank their families for supporting them during their military duty. In 1963, Frank Raymond woke up one morning in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Air Force. He left behind a wife and four children all under the age of 5. Raymond served 20 years and retired. “This lady is the reason why I stayed so long. She had the toughest job that I ever saw raising four kids,” he said. 

Stanley Thomas retired from military service this year. He spent 14.5 years in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief working on F-16 and F-22 jet planes. He also thanked his wife, Hannah Greene Thomas and daughter, Hope Elizabeth Michelle Thomas, for their support during his service. “I want to thank you wifey and my daughter. I love you, both. Thank you for serving with me,” he said. 

The dinner’s guest speaker was Kelly Hinkle, event coordinator for the Washington County-based Wreaths Across America. In 1992, Worcester Wreath Co. began a tradition of sending surplus wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester Wreath Co. owner Morrill Worcester began the program with a goal of ensuring Arlington graves were decorated during the holiday season.

Worcester contacted then-U.S. Congresswoman Olympia Snowe about making arrangements to lay wreaths at the national cemetery. Then Worcester created a nonprofit, Wreaths Across America, which provides wreaths for servicemen’s graves throughout the country. Hinkle manages the program’s planning and execution and participates in transporting wreaths to Arlington, Virginia each December.