Crown, VFW partner
to deliver early Thanksgiving meals
PRESQUE ISLE — In the month the nation pauses to honor veterans for their many sacrifices, and give thanks for the many blessings received, members of the Hayward-Frazier Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2599 partnered with Crown Emergency Care to thank local veterans by sharing that bounty.
Photo courtesy of TAMC
SPECIAL DELIVERY — Members of the Crown Emergency Care team and Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599 delivered turkey dinners Nov. 23 to area veterans in long term care and other central Aroostook living facilities. Among those receiving a meal was Presque Isle Nursing Home resident and veteran Mark Harding, who was presented his meal by, from left: Jeff Kiser, paramedic with Crown Emergency Care; Harvey McLellan, EMT with Crown Emergency Care; Ben Everett, supervisor with Crown Emergency Care, lead team member for Crown’s community paramedicine program, and lifetime member of the Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599; Eugene Michaud, trustee of VFW Post 2599; and Peter Marquis, Post quartermaster.
The VFW on Parsons Street in Presque Isle was the site of a free early Thanksgiving dinner for veterans Nov. 23. But, it wasn’t only those present who enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings.
In partnership with Crown Emergency Care, a division of TAMC, veterans at the Presque Isle Nursing Home, Leisure Village and Leisure Gardens in Presque Isle, and TAMC’s Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill, had hot meals delivered to them. A Crown Emergency Care crew partnered with members of the VFW to deliver 30 meals altogether.
“We wanted to do something special for veterans,” said Ben Everett, supervisor with Crown Emergency Care, lead team member for Crown’s community paramedicine program, and lifetime member of the Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599. “We thought having a crew from Crown Emergency Care deliver the Thanksgiving meals would be a nice touch and serve as a thank-you to one group who serves our community from another.”
Randolph Michaud, Post commander, agreed.
“We wanted to do something for our veterans that has never been done by our Post before. We knew of other programs in the community where community groups make meals for seniors and have them delivered, even by limousine,” he said. “So, we thought partnering with Crown Emergency Care would be a ‘wow’ for those who we delivered to. We are so grateful to the Crown crew for helping us out this way.”
Altogether, VFW Post 2599 members prepared 10 turkeys, 150 pounds of potatoes (donated by Naturally Potatoes in Mars Hill) and 50 pounds of carrots for the feast, which members hope to make an annual event.
