AUGUSTA, ME – Today, during the week of the VA National Salute to Veteran Patients, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) caught up with several Maine veterans who are patients at Togus VA Medical Center – saluting their service and expressing the gratitude of Maine people. The yearly event takes place during the week of Valentine’s Day, to show appreciation and support for men and women who are being cared for in VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, and nursing homes.

“Maine’s veterans have our state’s eternal gratitude, and it’s up to us to make sure we never let them forget it,” said Senator King. “Each and every day of the year, we need to show our veterans how grateful we are for the sacrifices they’ve made to secure our way of life, and the National Salute does exactly that. It was an honor to meet with so many Maine heroes and the dedicated men and women who care for them, and let them know how important they are to their communities, state, and nation.”

A member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, 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. He spent Veterans Day in 2019 traveling the state and meeting with Maine veterans in Portland, Waterville, and Augusta. In November, 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. In October, Senator King met with Maine veterans, healthcare providers, and advocates at the 22nd Annual Stand Down at Togus – a yearly event that highlights services and resources for veterans who are homeless or in transitional housing.

In September, 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.