Contestants, family, friends and legionnaires traveled from all corners of Maine for The American Legion Oratorical Contest on Saturday, February 16^th at Thomas College in Waterville. William Nelligan a junior from Casco Bay High School won the contest delivering nearly flawless orations on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The American Legion, Department of Maine is proud to announce the 61st Annual American Legion Dirigo Boys State program. This year’s program will again be held at Thomas College in Waterville during the week of June 15-19, 2008. Every American Legion Post and all subordinate bodies should alert their membership to one of the finest youth programs in the nation.

The American Legion in Maine presented $500 checks to local disabled veterans who were injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to the Service Office and Adjutant’s Office, seventy-three names were forwarded to the National organization. The Department of Maine was extremely fortunate to have thirty-seven of those requests filled.

As an unfortunate consequence of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s war on terror, many children of our active-duty military personnel are now members of single-parent families. In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished. Children of military personnel killed on active duty are entitled to receive money toward a college education. But it’s not enough.