WATERVILLE, ME – Today,  U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) honored Veterans Day at events celebrating Maine veterans in Portland, Augusta, and Waterville. Senator King began his morning highlighting veterans healthcare providers alongside veterans, their families, and staff from Martin’s Point Healthcare in Portland. Senator King then met with veterans and VA leadership at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta. At Togus he toured the new Fisher House, which is dedicated to providing a comfortable and supportive environment for veterans. Following these events, Senator King joined the Veteran Mentors of Maine at the Elks Club in Waterville to celebrate the addition of two new veteran justice outreach workers that Senator King advocated for in 2017.

“On this Veterans Day, it is my privilege to thank Maine’s men and women who answered the call to serve in defense of our nation,” said Senator King. “The veterans I spoke with today, and their devoted families, represent the best of America. We’re proud that so many of our neighbors and friends answered the call to serve our nation – indeed, over ten percent of Maine people are veterans. Not only today, but each day of the year, we should take the time to acknowledge what Maine’s servicemembers have done to keep us safe and what they’ve done to inspire future generations. These men and women form the backbone of our communities: they are teachers, moms and dads, first responders, business owners, and mentors. They are people bound together by an ethic of service, dedicated to furthering the American experiment and fostering a more free and just nation.”

Senator King has been an advocate for Maine veterans during his time in the U.S. Senate, working to honor their service and provide them with the high-quality care they have earned through their service. This week, Senator King joined the Maine delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie raising the issue of late payments from the VA to Maine community hospitals and health care providers. Last month, Senator King announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a lease contract for a new Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Portland. The facility will allow more veterans to access care in their own communities and reduce the strain on Togus. In June, Senator King took part in the official, bipartisan Senate delegation to Normandy, France, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II. In May, he spoke at Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta to pay tribute to America’s fallen heroes and honor the sacrifices of America’s veterans and their families.