Hundreds of Veterans receive lapel pins in recognition of 50th anniversary of Vietnam War
CARIBOU, Maine — More than 400 people attended Cary Medical Center’s 35th annual Health Fair held Oct. 17 at Caribou High School.
Nursing students from the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Northern Maine Community College along with hospital nurses provided 350 free flu shots. Some 30 exhibitors representing multiple health organizations and programs shared information with participants and more than 150 had free cholesterol and blood sugar screening.
A special highlight of the event was the presentation of commemorative lapel pins to Vietnam veterans in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the war. In addition more than 300 veterans were recognized on the ‘Wall of Honor’ as part of the hospital’s display.
Bethany Zell, special events coordinator at Cary said that the Health Fair has become a hospital tradition and that the numbers were up from last year.
“We were very pleased with the turnout for this year’s health fair,” said Zell, who works in the public relations department at the hospital. “It was a great privilege for us to honor Vietnam veterans and veterans of all wars who have done so much for this nation. We heard some great stories and we were so pleased that so many Vietnam War veterans attended the event.”
In addition to cholesterol and blood sugar screening the health fair also featured vision screening, blood pressure checks, pulmonary function tests, and a special screening for Alpha 1.
Alpha-1, also known as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, is a disorder passed on by a person’s parents, which results in low levels or no levels of a protein in the blood.
The health fair also had demonstrations of yoga and a senior exercise program called “Bone Builders.”
Cary’s Rehabilitation Services Department offered a children’s fitness challenge and Pines Health Services provided an informational booth with staff dressed in Halloween Costume.
The Loring Job Corps Center provided volunteers to assist with the health fair and according to Zell, they were critical to the success of the event.
“The Loring Job Corps students and their supervisors were very helpful and we could not have had such a successful event without them”, said Zell. “They helped with laying down a covering over the gym floor, helped greet participants and helped us to tear down and pack away material. It was hard work and we are very grateful for their support.”
Members of the Cary Medical Center Auxiliary and other hospital volunteers also helped to support the health fair along with members of the public relations staff.
The health fair was started in 1980 by the hospital auxiliary in partnership with the PR Department. Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development for the hospital said that over the 35 years of the event the auxiliary and hospital volunteers have been very important.
“It is hard to believe that we have done this for more than three decades and it continues to be a great success,” said Flagg, who has attended each event. “The ladies auxiliary and our hospital volunteers have been there every year and without them we could not have kept it going. In addition all of the exhibitors, health professionals, nursing students, and Cary staff contribute. It takes everyone working together to produce such a unique and beneficial community event.”
Throughout the event, door prizes were also awarded including: two copies of “Eat for Health” by Dr. Joel Fuhrman – won by Dwayne Scott and Mary Lund, two red, white and blue floral arrangements – won by Dawn Peterson and Darlene Henderson and a resistance band exercise set with DVD – won by John Cyr. The grand prize, a FitBit, was won by Keith Brown.
The hospital is already planning for next year’s health fair and invites organizations to contact the office of community relations for additional information.
