Veterans to be honored at events across Maine’s public universities

Maine’s public universities plan to salute those who served with events on their campuses and in the community connected to Veterans Day.

The public is encouraged to attend these tributes across the University of Maine System, which include:

Monday, Nov. 7

• 9 a.m. Maine Medal of Honor tribute and “Thank a Veteran” ribbon campaign in the University of Maine at Farmington student center at 111 South St., Farmington (continues through Nov. 14).

• Noon. Flag raising ceremony in front of UMaine’s Fogler Library on the Orono campus, followed by student veteran barbecue.

• 1 p.m. Book reading and signing at the University of Southern Maine, in 241 Luther Bonney Hall at 85 Bedford St., Portland, featuring Ryan Stovall, UMaine alum, former Green Beret, two-time Purple Heart recipient and author of “Black Snowflakes Smothering a Torch: How to Talk to Your Veteran.”

Tuesday, Nov. 8

• 10 a.m. Book reading and signing at the University of Maine at Augusta, in the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine Rotunda Klahr Center, 46 University Drive in Augusta, also featuring Stovall.

Wednesday, Nov. 9

• 10 a.m. Book reading and signing in the Bangor Room of the UMaine Memorial Union in Orono, also featuring Stovall.

Thursday, Nov. 10

• 7 a.m. USM and Southern Maine Community College joint veterans appreciation breakfast at SMCC Culinary Arts Dining Room at 2 Fort Road, South Portland, with remarks from USM President Jacqueline Edmondson.

• 11 a.m. Veterans cake and ice cream social hosted by UMA with the Maine Career Center in the Bennett D. Katz Library, 20 Jewett Drive in Augusta.

Friday, Nov. 11

Veterans Day recognized at all UMS universities; no classes.

• 2 p.m. Recognition ceremony led by USM student veterans at Scarborough Terrace, assisted living and memory care facility at 600 Commerce Drive in Scarborough, to honor service members living there, including a 100-year-old female World War II Veteran.

Saturday, Nov. 12

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Display honoring area veterans at the University of Maine at Machias Fall Festival in the Reynolds Center at 112 University Drive, Machias.

More than 1,800 veterans, active Maine National Guard members and veterans’ dependents enroll each year in UMS universities, which have received national recognition for being military friendly.

Maine’s public universities provide free tuition to members of the Maine National Guard and in-state tuition rates to all veterans with an honorable discharge and their dependents using G.I. Bill benefits, regardless of their residency.

The system also has a Student Military and Mobilization and Activation Policy for those called to duty. The policy extends academic accommodations, tuition and housing rebates, re-admission and a guarantee that a spouse and dependents residing in university housing can stay through a mobilization or activation period.

UMS universities also support the success of veteran students by providing designated spaces on most campuses for veterans to connect with one another, study and access services, such as the Veterans Academic Center at UMA or the VETS Center at UMaine.

For more information, email Nagle at nagle@maine.edu.