Veterans to be honored with week of events

The University of Maine will recognize veterans with a week of events to coincide with Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The activities are coordinated by the UMaine Office of Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) and UMaine Veterans Association.

UMaine Veterans Week activities will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7 with a wreath-laying ceremony in the Memorial Union. A small gathering of students, staff and veterans will honor the lives lost in service to the country.

The ceremony will be followed by the annual American and POW flag raising on the Mall by Army and Navy ROTC beginning at noon, and a barbecue to celebrate UMaine veterans.

As part of the week, Maine Power Builders, a UMaine powerlifting and bodybuilding club, is partnering with the Maine Veterans Project to present the “Maine Lifts for Veterans” fundraiser at 4 p.m. Nov. 10 in the New Balance Student Recreation Center.

The event asks participating athletes to find people to pledge money toward either a single lift or a number of repetitions. Athletes can either dead lift, flat bench, squat or overhead press. Pledges go directly to veterans in the Greater Bangor area.

All are welcome to participate. Pledging forms can be submitted at the Rec Center Nov. 7 and 8. For more information or to register, email Daniel Rich at dan.rich47@yahoo.com or on FirstClass.

Classes, except those that meet once a week on Fridays, are canceled on Veterans Day.

Other UMaine Veterans Week activities include:

• Tuesday, Nov. 8 — Free lunch vouchers available to student veterans. Vouchers can be picked up at the VETS office, Room 143 of the Memorial Union.
• 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 — Transfer credit and prior learning workshop in the VETS office.
• 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 —  “Day in the Life of a Veteran” photography exhibit opening in the Memorial Union. Featured photographers will unveil the Bangor Vet Center exhibit, which will include four to six sets of images. The exhibit will be on display until Nov. 18.
• 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 — A Veterans Day 5K to honor those who serve and protect the country. The race will start at the New Balance Student Recreation Center. It is free for all veterans and active duty service members, and $15 for the general public. Proceeds go to UMVA. More information, including registration, is online.
• 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 — Bangor/Brewer Veterans Day parade, which starts on Acme Road in Brewer.
• 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 — UMaine Black Bears Military Appreciation Series, women’s basketball vs. Purdue. Free tickets available at 581.BEAR for military personnel, veterans and families.

Free coffee and doughnuts provided by Dunkin’ Donuts will be available at the VETS office Tuesday through Thursday. Free UMVA Pub Crawl wristbands also will be available to student veterans.

For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Tony Llerena, VETS coordinator and school certifying official for veterans, at 581.1316 or tony.llerena@maine.edu.

Contact: Elyse Kahl, 207.581.3747