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Southern Maine Chapter Newsletter

   March 2025

Vol 41  No. 1


 

Index (Scroll down through the newsletter or click on a section to go directly there.)

President’s Page
Happy 2025 to all of you!  
I’m back in Maine after spending much of the winter thus far in Florida.  Looking forward to going back to my little slice of sunshine in early April. 

If you were at our December 6th luncheon, I think you will agree that it was one of our best!  We presented the Ann LePage Service to Veterans to Travis Mills and even had Mrs. LePage on the phone line to congratulate Travis. Their funny, uplifting conversation is one of my favorite MOAA luncheon memories. 
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We also heard from Julie Morkve who is the director of the new Portland Vet Center located at 707 Sable Oaks Drive in South Portland.  She recently contacted me to tell me about an Open House for the facility which will be held on May 7th.  

Our next meeting will be on Saturday, March 29th at the Maine Military Museum in South Portland.  We have rescheduled Navy Capt (Ret) Mark Winter, the program director for the newly formed Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA).  Mark was supposed to join us on December 7th, but was ill and couldn’t make it. Read more at: https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/maine-defense-industry-alliance-names-its-first-program-director.

Please use the following link to reserve your place at the luncheon!  Reservations Form

Yours in Service,                                                                                  Brenda Pennels, Chapter President 


Welcome Aboard

The Chapter would like to extend a warm Welcome Aboard to the following new members:

  • Captain Alan LeGrow, USN, and his wife Pam from Orr’s Island, ME
  • Captain Albert Ingraham, USA, and his wife Stephanie from South Portland, ME
  • Captain Anthony Friday, USA, and his wife Cassie from Windham, ME

We look forward to seeing you all at our Quarterly Meetings. Thank you for your interest and support.

Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair


ROTC/JROTC Program Update

2025 Dates for ROTC/JROTC Award Ceremonies

As of this newsletter printing, known dates for this Spring’s ROTC and JROTC award ceremonies are below. Please reach out to Col Frank Toderico, ROTC Chair at ftoderico@juno.com for updated information

Junior ROTC

ARMY 

  • Old Town High School 207-827-3910 ext. 309. (March 29, 2025) 
  • Hermon High School 207-848-5436. (May 2, 2025) 
  • Bangor High School 207-992-5570. (May 5, 2025)

NAVY 

  • Massabesic High School 207-247-5011. (May 1, 2025) 

Senior ROTC

NAVY 

  • Maine Maritime Academy, Castine 207-326-2356. Commissioning (May 3, 2025) Awards Ceremony at Castine, (TBD) 

University of Maine, Orono 207-581-1551. Commissioning (May 10, 2025)


2025 Upcoming Events

Sat, Mar 29th      Southern Maine MOAA Quarterly luncheon, Maine Military Museum, South Portland

Wed, May 7th     Portland Vet Center Open House, 707 Sable Oaks Dr, South Portland FMI: Julie Morkve, Dir.  207.780.3584

Sat, June 14th   Joint Event: AUSA Joshua Chamberlain Chapter/Southern Maine MOAA Chapter to celebrate Army’s 250th Birthday, Camp Keyes, Augusta

Wed, July 23rd  Chapter Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser, Dunegrass Country Club, Saco. FMI: Jack Fay 207.883.6447 or Mike Delia 207.409.2772

Army Birthday and Revolutionary War 250th Commemoration Events

This year marks a momentous occasion as we celebrate two pivotal milestones in American history -- the Army’s 250th birthday and the start of the American Revolution.  

The Joshua Chamberlain (Maine) Chapter of the Association of the US Army (AUSA) has invited our MOAA chapter to join them for the Army's birthday event on Saturday, 14 June 2025. This event will also serve as our quarterly lunch meeting. It will take place at the Maine Armed Forces Museum at Camp Keyes in Augusta, with additional support from the Maine Military Historical Society, Maine National Guard HQ and Maine Army Recruiting Company (Active and Reserve).

Camp Keyes is a bit further than our usual lunch meeting locations, but it's a chance to visit Maine’s official state military museum and connect with comrades outside of our organization. If you need help with transportation or can provide a ride for another member, please contact Brenda Pennels at (207) 671-1262.  

In fall 2025, Maine will also commemorate the Quebec Campaign of 1775, launched from Augusta’s Fort Western by General Benedict Arnold. This appears to be Maine's only other “official” military event for the Revolution’s 250th anniversary, which runs from 2025 to 2033. Further details will be passed on as received.                                  

Submitted by Stephen Broughall


Annual Membership Dues

Folks -- You may remember from the December Newsletter that we were holding our annual dues drive and hoping to complete it by February 1. Many of you have submitted your payments. Some of you have not. If you fall into the second category, please take a couple of minutes to send in your $20.00 payment. Please make the checks out to: Southern Maine Chapter MOAA. They should be sent to our Treasurer, Col Steve Broughall, PO Box 113, Orr’s Island, ME 04096. As always, Emeritus Members and Auxiliary Members are not required to pay dues. Also, any Members that joined after October 1, 2024, are considered as paid in full for 2025. Here is a link to our form:  https://www.moaasouthernmaine.org/dues.html.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Rob McAleer (Membership Chair)


Southern Maine Chapter Supporters (2024)

The Chapter is able to continue its annual operations because of the year in and year out support provided by our members through their annual dues.  In many cases, members provide additional assistance through their voluntary contributions to the General Fund and the ROTC/JROTC programs.  In order to appropriately recognize their support and generosity, the Chapter has established four categories of supporters.  The Standard Bearers are those members who have paid their dues for the current year.  Bronze Star members have donated up to $29.00 extra to the Chapter.  Silver Star members have donated up to $49.00 extra.  Gold Star members have donated $50.00 or more.  Regardless of the level of contribution, the Chapter is sincerely grateful for their continuing support.

Gold Star

Frank Toderico,  Alan Johnston,  Marston Lovell,  Mark Patrick,  Al Ryan,  William Hall,  Mary Hoffman,  K. Scott Berry,  Charles Cragin,  Robert Curtis,  Michael Delia,  David Gardner,  Michael Gentile,  John Ham,  John (Bill) Libby,  Michael Pooler,  Linwood Stockwell,  James Varmecky,  Daivid Campbell,  Paul Loiselle,  Stanley Primmer,  Edward Stanhope

Silver Star

Leonard Daley,  Gordon Erikson,  Thomas Meyers,  David Patch,  Gerald Bouchard,  Richard Bailey,  David Crump,  Donald Grinnell,  Anthony Liguori,  Ronald Lubatti,  Robert McAleer,  Laurence Minott,  Douglas Scott

Bronze Star

Edward Baehr,  David Beattie,  Michael Conlon,  James Cumming,  Donovan LaJoie,  Michael Severance,  Dale Smith,  Donald Stearns,  David Tanguay,  Donald Welsh,  Charles VanVLack,  Arn Heggers,  Mary Hoffman

Standard Bearer

Frank Amoroso,  John Bauman,  Ralph Black,  David Carmack,  Paul Cuenin,  James Dunn, John Fay,  Lorinda Fontaine-Farris,  Ginny Garneau,  Jonathan Goode,  Connie Harrison,  Charles Hennessey,  Michael Johnston


Chapter Finance & Budget Committee Update

The committee has been formed and the volunteers are Mike Delia, Jack Fay, and Paul Loiselle.  They will assist the treasurer, Steve Broughall, in proposing an annual budget and planning a longer range financial strategy for the chapter.  Please send any suggestions, comments, etc. to broughall.stephen@gmail.com


2025 Upcoming Events (Cont)

Sat, Aug 2th      41st MOAA NH Clambake, Naval Shipyard. More details in the June newsletter

Sat, Oct 4th Mid Coast Navy Ball (250th Birthday!), St. John's Community Center, Bru FMI: James "Rusty" Robertson, CDR, USN (Ret) Casco Bay Council, Navy League of the Untied States. 207robertson@gmail.com  


In Memoriam


Commander Richard Thacker, USN (Ret)

West Gardiner, ME

December 6, 2024

"We are grateful for your loyal service to the Nation..."


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