FORT FAIRFIELD, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended the Fort Fairfield High School Class of 1967’s tribute to veterans at the VFW Paul-Lockhart Post 6187. This event, which was agreed upon during the class’s 50-year reunion last year, honored the military veterans from the class who served during the Vietnam War era. 

“Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans of any state in the nation, and the Fort Fairfield Class of 1967 shows why: approximately one-third of the students served in the armed forces,” said Senator King. “Fifty-one years later, the contributions of these veterans have not been forgotten. It was a privilege to celebrate the service of so many Maine veterans today, and a reminder of the our continuing responsibility to care for those who sacrificed so much to keep us safe.” 

Senator King has been a strong advocate for veterans issues since arriving in Washington. Last month, his bill to strengthen accountability of senior executives at the VA was signed into law. In May, Senator King held a listening session with Maine veterans on the qualities and values they are looking for in a new VA Secretary, and also visited the Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat in Rome, which brings injured veterans and their families to Maine in order to help the veterans overcome physical obstacles with the support of family members. In December, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health or substance abuse issues – a move which follows a February letter from Senator King to the VA urging additional resources on the topic. Senator King was a cosponsor of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, which passed the Senate in June 2017 and has since been signed into law. The Senator also highlighted the important place of veterans in Maine by devoting his November and December podcasts to the subject, with Travis Mills as one of the guests on the latter show.