HODGDON, Maine — Nearly 100 veterans, police officers and family members filled the Hodgdon High School gymnasium Thursday morning for the 16th annual Veterans’ Day Breakfast.
Staff photos/Joseph Cyr
During the event sponsored by JMG, those in attendance enjoyed a free breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and muffins .
“We are honored to have you here in our school and are so glad to have you be a part of this special event,” said Jason Little, JMG specialist at the school. “This event could never be possible without so many donations from area businesses and the students who helped decorate.”
The ceremony featured a special guest in attendance as Floyd Smith, 93, of Hodgdon was recognized for his service with the presentation of a painting. Smith was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps and was a prisoner of war in Romania.
Five service flags were donated to the school for use in their program. A U.S. Navy flag was donated by Principal Mary Harbison in honor of Aldo, Robert and Atillio Carbone, who all served in the Navy during WWII.
Guidance Director Bernadette Willette donated a U.S. Army flag, dedicated to Chester Willette, who served in WWII. A U.S. Marines flag was donated by Regina McCombs and dedicated to William Sullivan, a WWII veteran who landed on Iwo Jima.
A U.S. Coast Guard flag was dedicated to John Joseph Jr. and a U.S. Air Force flag was dedicated to Gary Carr, who served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Both flags were donated by Bernard Reece, Hodgdon’s first JMG specialist.
Students from Hodgdon Middle/High School decorated the gymnasium in red, white and blue, while elementary students drew pictures thanking the veterans for their service.
Kim Rohn, staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s office, played a video from the congressman expressing his gratitude to the men and women who have served this nation. Dennis Geiger of Detachment 1368 of the Marine Corps League served as the guest speaker and gave a brief history of the United States Marine Corps.
Members of the Mill Pond fifth- and sixth-grade chorus and Hodgdon High School chorus, under the direction of Sharyn Walker; and the Middle/High School band, under the direction of Scott Walker, performed patriotic musical selections to entertain the veterans. Christopher Albert, a sophomore JMG student at Hodgdon, read a poem titled, “Soldiers.”
