This past Memorial Day we paused to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In order to fully honor these sacrifices, we must make sure that those who currently serve in our country’s defense, and those who have done so in the past, receive the best possible care.
Memorial Day is our most solemn national observance. It is a day of gratitude and remembrance. It is the day when America pays tribute to those who have given their lives in the defense of freedom.
To the editor:
When a few tax dollars become the excuse to compromise a living being, society takes another step backward away from progress and puts its humanity and compassion in jeopardy.
Aside from providing annual education, fun, and friendly competitions, the Northern Maine Fair has contributed much to Aroostook County over the past 150 years. From encouraging settlement of “The County” in the early days, through providing quarters for the troops during World War II, the story of the Northern Maine Fair provides a unique glimpse into the history of central Aroostook.
It would seem that a woman like Maria Shriver has it all. She is the First Lady of California, a former network television news anchor, and a member of one of America’s most prominent families. But diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, do not discriminate. Recently, Maria testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. She told us a very personal story about her own family’s experience with this terrible disease.
Concerns about Maine’s economy and job losses have been high on the priority list for my colleagues and me as we begin this legislative session. Maine continues to experience the fallout from the national recession, and the impact on the County seems to be particularly harsh. Despite our ability to block the closing of the Maine Revenue Services office in Houlton earlier this year, I have still received a number of calls from community members about filing for unemployment and how to find a new job.
It’s only a week until Christmas Eve and crunch time for those who still have shopping left to do. If you’re having trouble finding just the right gift for that special friend or family member, don’t panic, there’s still time and I have a few nifty ideas. Why, if you order in the next day or two the items will still arrive before Santa.
To the editor
The holiday season is around the corner and while gift giving for children is easy with the wonderful toys and books out there these days, buying for the young adults in your life can be challenging.
The economic downturn has permeated virtually every realm of our society. For sale signs blotch front lawns in our hometowns, prices at the corner gas station rise and drop with guaranteed unpredictability, and daily announcements of job losses have become as ordinary as morning weather forecasts. Yet one symbol of the depressing economy that has Mainers worried is the falling price of one of our state’s greatest sources of pride and identity: the lobster.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) recently announced that Oct. 5-11 is recognized as “Fire Prevention Week.” This designation was made possible by the Senate’s Oct. 1 approval of a resolution introduced by Dodd and Collins.
