Posted by Bob Martin

Jack Rioux, George Alexander, and his brother, Lou, sons of fishermen, grew up together on Peaks Island and did everything you could image together on Peaks Island in the late ‘40’s and early ‘50’s. Inseparable until they graduated from high school, Jack and Lou enlisted in the Air Force at the end of the Korean war, and served 25-year careers as bomber mechanics around the world. “I served two tours in ‘Nam,” Lou said. “We ferried bombers from Florida to the RVN, and kept them in shape.” George enlisted in the Coast Guard a few years later, serving on the weather ship that navigated the east coast from Portland to Florida. When his boat returned to base in Portland, he walked over to the Casco Bay Line dock to take the ferry home to Peaks. George and Jack joined the Portland Fire Department after they retired, and Lou went to work for Maine Med. They have stories, and they like to tell them.

These three gentlemen, along with 175 of their fellow veterans, and 110 other attendees were welcomed by President Don Zillman at Portland Rotary’s 3rd Annual Veterans' Day Appreciation Lunch last Friday held at the Italian Heritage Center.

Everyone enjoyed Denny Breau’s musical prelude, and rose to attention for the 1st Battalion 25th Marines Presentation of Colors, the Pledge led by Past President Bob Traill, the National Anthem, led by Kathy Grammer, and Major Kim D’Amaro’s invocation.  

All glasses were raised high to join Past President Kris Rosado’s (at right) toast to our “Fallen Comrades,” as he explained that we had a “Fallen Comrades Table” set up in the front of the room. Kris shared the symbolism of the items placed on the table:

• The folded Flag represents that this reserved table is set for all who have fallen or are missing after answering the call of duty.
• A single setting symbolizes the decision they each made to answer that call.
• The tablecloth and napkin are white, symbolizing the purity of their motives.
• The vase is tied with a ribbon, symbolizing their love of our country.
• The single rose reminds us of the families and loved ones who keep the faith of those who served.
• A slice of lemon on the bread plate reminds us of their bitter fate.
• Salt upon the bread plate is symbolic of their families’ tears from their loss.
• The chair is empty because they cannot be with us today, and the glass is inverted because they cannot join us in this toast.

During lunch, many of the veterans in the room shared stories between themselves and their tablemates, talking of family, travels, and reminiscences of military service. These were conversations between ordinary people.

Lou Alexander liked that Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (at left) delivered the keynote address, because of his involvement with the VFW. “She gets it,” he said as the Congresswoman talked about her efforts, and those of the other members of Maine’s congressional delegation, to secure benefits for veterans, and ease service claims at the VA. “We’re pleased to add another community-based outpatient clinic in Portland,” she said. “In a rural state like Maine, it’s difficult for veterans to have to travel long distances for care.” She also drew attention to a rare occurrence in today’s Congress, the unanimous approval of the Veterans Fair Care Debt Notice Act, a bill she sponsored to relieve those who had become snared in the VA’s bureaucracy. 

Chellie spoke of plans to help veterans deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and provisions in the Farm Bill to assist veteran farmers, as well as help qualified veterans purchase food from farmers markets. “A lot of this depends on the overall budget,” she said. “The funds are there, it’s just a matter of applying them here. Our recognition of veterans has to be more than a day off and a flag.” 

Joe Reagan, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, who holds the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, is Vice Chairman of Veterans Count, an organization focused on providing a range of services to veterans. “When I came home, I received a standing ovation in the airport. For those of you who did not get that welcome home, you deserve it.” 

Since its founding in 2006, Reagan reported, Veterans Count has served over 5,000 veterans; prevented 112 suicides; protected 1,000 families from foreclosure; helped 2,000 individual veterans obtain mental care; and, distributed over $2.6 million to veterans in need. “Ninety percent of the funds we raise go directly to vets,” Reagan said. He said his organization works first to establish trust with vets, taking care of basic needs, and then moves to help get them treatment for PTSD, and employment. “The VA does a great job of helping vets with physical injuries, but has difficulty handling complex injuries like PTSD or brain trauma,” he said. 

He pointed to one story of a veteran assisted by Veterans Count who was talked out of committing suicide. “It was a tough situation, but we prevented it. Now that individual has his own construction company with ten employees. Many lives were impacted by that effort.”

Past President Larry Gross (standing at left with President Don Zillman and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree) presented Kristina Sabasteanski, Executive Director of Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training (VAST), with compound bows and a three-wheel bike to be used at the VAST facility at Pineland Farms.

(Photo right: PP Kris Rosado, Kristina Sabasteanski, Steve Stromsky and PP Don Lowry.)

Larry also commented on the effective work done with the Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Vet to Vet program, which breaks down the isolation of older vets.

Kathy Grammer and Past President Russ Burleigh, accompanied by Betty Rines on trumpet, led the singing of the military service branch songs—a club Veterans' Day tradition that gives everyone a chance to cheer for their fellow members who rise to be recognized when their branch’s song is sung. George stood for the Coast Guard's  “Semper Paratus,” and waved at the applause. Lou rose to sing the Air Force's “Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder,” his hand on Jack’s shoulder because it was too difficult for him to stand; we sang the Navy's “Anchors Aweigh,” the Marines' “The Marine Hymn,” and the Army's “Caissons Go Rolling Along,” applauding all those who stood. 

Many veterans and guests commented how much they enjoyed the event, and the gifts of a scarf and recognition pin. In some ways, the men and women in the room who served in the armed forces are just average people...but in another way, they are extraordinary: they accepted the challenge of military service knowing it could cost them their lives. All the veterans in the room, and across the country, deserve the commendation we extended last Friday.