The Maine Bureau of Veterans Services will be observing National Vietnam War Veterans Day at the State House (Hall of Flags) in Augusta on March 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. The afternoon’s events will include opening remarks by Governor Janet Mills and the Adjutant General Douglas Farnham. Acting Director David A. Richmond, state legislators and representatives will also conduct veteran recognition’s.

Photographs taken during the war by Vietnam Veterans from the Boothbay region will be on display in the rotunda, as this event also marks the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam in 1969. Navy Veteran Joy Asuncion (Maine’s Ambassador to the Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.) will be on site to provide registration information for female veterans and their families and to answer questions about the Honor Flight program, representatives from the VA at Togus, as well as acoustic musical entertainment by Blind Albert (one member is a Vietnam Veteran), and light refreshments will be served.

We encourage Mainers who would like to recognize a friend or family member killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War to submit a copy of their favorite photograph with a brief remembrance of their loved one, which will be displayed the day of the event. Mail your submissions to Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, 117 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0117 or email an electronic version to sarah.sherman@maine.gov. Please note the cutoff date for entries is March 22. Please only submit copies of your photographs. Copies will not be returned as they are for display purposes only.

Please join the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services for a day of remembrance, celebration, and welcome home in honor of Maine’s Vietnam Veterans.

The State House is located on the corners of Capitol and State Streets in Augusta. The west entrance, facing the Cross Office Building, is open to the public.

Free public parking is located in front of the Cross Office Building, accessible from Sewall Street, and in the multi-level parking garage on the corner of Capitol and Sewall Streets. There are several additional smaller lots, northeast of the parking garage, near the Blaine House, on Wade and Grove Streets.

Handicapped parking spaces are located between the State House and the Cross Office Building and on the Capitol Street side of the west entrance. There are additional spaces on the lower levels of the parking garage and near the north end of the Cross Office Building lot. The public entrance to the State House is on the back, facing the Cross Office Building.

Screening process

Please note that the Maine Capitol Police conduct entry screening of all visitors to the Maine State House, including students. To expedite the screening process, please:

• Arrive early to give enough time needed for the screening process. Leave bags, unnecessary metal objects, and other personal belongings in your vehicle.
• Phones, keys, and other personal belongings brought into the State House will be screened by an x-ray machine. If you have any metal in your body i.e. shrapnel, replacement knee or hip, be prepared to produce a medical card or doctor’s letter to the screening officer.

For more information about the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services or to request assistance, please visit our website at www.maine.gov/veterans or call 207-430-6035.