Portland Rotary Hosts Veterans Appreciation Lunch Program

Veterans are cordially invited to be the guests of the Rotary Club of Portland on Friday, November 9, 2018, from 12 - 1:30 PM, at the Holiday Inn By the Bay on Spring Street, to enjoy the annual program in recognition of their military service.

Keynote speakers for the program are Major General John W. Libby, Ret., Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard and Captain Jonathan D. Bratten, military historian. Captain Bratten will speak about Maine military service in World War I.

A full service lunch will be complimentary for all Veterans who register for the program. This program is made possible because of generous support from a Roll Call of business sponsors and private donations.

Chairs of the Veterans Appreciation Lunch are Rotarians Charlie Frair and Paul Tully.

Rotarian Rusy Atwood is on the organizing committee and he helped to develop the 2018 program.

The Rotary Club of Portland Maine was chartered on September 1, 1915, only two years before the Americans entered the First World War, on April 6, 1917, in Europe. One of the recognition projects supported by the Portland Rotarians, in conjunction with the club's Centennial anniversary, was to support a restoration of the Flag Monument dedicated to honor the first Maine solder who was killed in action during World War I. Harold Taylor Andrews was the first Mainer, serving in an American regiment killed in World War I. He was 24 years old. The American Legion Post on Deering Street in Portland bears his name, as does a small public square on Pine Street, where he attended grammar school. Portland Rotarians rededicated the square in 2015.

All veterans are invited to be guests of Portland Rotary at this program and we request for them to register on line at portlandrotary.org. Guests who are not veterans are asked to buy a $25 ticket at the door. (Cash and checks only please. Thank you.)