Maine Veterans in Need, Inc.

10/31/2026

5 November 2026
David Patch
One Veteran's Point of View
As we approach Veterans Day, I am sure every veteran has different thoughts on what that means to them. The veteran banners we see on the poles around the region mean just a little more. But, I thought I would share want comes to my mind.
There are two principles that I believe define the military spirit: “Never Stop Serving” and “Leave No One Behind.” They are more than slogans. They represent a commitment to our country, our communities, and perhaps most importantly, to each other. And that commitment doesn’t end when we take off the uniform.
From the first day of military training, we learn the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and looking out for one another. We become part of something bigger than ourselves. We learn that accomplishing the mission depends not only on our individual abilities but also on trusting and supporting those serving alongside us.
The military teaches us that we don’t abandon a fellow service member when things get difficult. We work together, overcome obstacles, and make certain everyone gets through the mission. That is the meaning of “Leave No One Behind.”
But what happens when our military service ends? Does that responsibility disappear when we receive our discharge papers or retire? I certainly don’t believe so.
Today, throughout Maine, veterans face challenges that can be every bit as overwhelming as those they encountered while serving. Homelessness, financial emergencies, physical disabilities, mental health struggles, and the difficulties of transitioning to civilian life can leave veterans feeling isolated and forgotten.
Ironically, the very qualities that made us successful in the military - self-reliance, determination, and pride - can sometimes make it difficult to ask for help. We were trained to overcome obstacles, not admit defeat. But asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and providing that help is simply another form of service.
That philosophy is at the heart of Maine Veterans in Need. Our mission is to provide a hand up, not a handout, when a fellow veteran faces a crisis. Sometimes that means emergency housing, heating fuel, or assistance connecting with organizations that can provide longer-term support.
But “Never Stop Serving” is much bigger than any one organization. Across Maine, veterans continue to serve through veteran service organizations, community organizations, volunteer fire departments, food pantries, and countless other activities. Some mentor younger veterans, visit those in hospitals or nursing homes, or help incarcerated veterans prepare to return to their communities.
Not every veteran can volunteer or provide financial assistance. Sometimes service is simply making a phone call, offering encouragement, or helping a fellow veteran find the right resources.
The uniform may be hanging in the closet, but the values it represents remain with us.
We were taught to leave no one behind while serving our country. Why should that commitment be any different when we return home?
Our military service may have ended, but our opportunity to serve - and our responsibility to one another - never should.

10/25/2026

29 Oct 2026
David Patch, President

One Veteran's Point of View

Two years ago, I started a Veterans Support Group at Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston, Maine. Why? Because they were still my brothers and needed to know we still are. I had absolutely no background, education, or experience with prisons, corrections, or the criminal justice system. Some might say that made me uniquely qualified to get involved! My reasoning was simple. These men were veterans. At one point in their lives, they raised their right hands and swore to defend our country, knowing they might be called upon to put themselves in harm's way. Most served honorably. Somewhere along the way, things went wrong. That doesn't excuse their crimes. They are being held accountable and paying their debt to society. But does that mean we should forget their military service or abandon them when they need help getting their lives back together?
Over the past two years, I've learned a great deal from the incarcerated veterans themselves. Now I'm just beginning to understand the system from the outside, and there is a lot to learn! For example, did you know that veterans incarcerated for a felony for more than 60 days have their VA disability compensation reduced? Those rated 20% or higher receive only the 10% compensation rate. Those rated 10% receive half that amount. Their actual disability rating doesn't change, and benefits may be restored following release.
Healthcare is another issue. While incarcerated, their VA healthcare stops and receive contracted medical care through the correctional system. This is an important area I need to learn more about.
Fortunately, organizations are working to help veterans successfully return to society. Easterseals Maine has an employment program that, as I understand it, can begin 18 months before release and continue 18 months afterward. Preble Street helps eligible veterans facing homelessness find housing, although the timing and eligibility requirements can complicate the process. And there are other organizations that help in the transition.
The Maine Department of Corrections also offers educational opportunities, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, work-release programs, and reentry planning. Each correctional facility, I am learning, offers programs somewhat differently.
I'm also becoming involved with the Maine Reentry Network, hoping to better understand how all these organizations can work together.
Here's what concerns me. A veteran leaving prison may need housing, employment, healthcare, transportation, identification, and restored VA benefits. All at once! Miss one piece and the others can quickly fall apart. At Maine Veterans in Need, we know how difficult homelessness can be to overcome. Imagine facing those same challenges immediately after leaving prison, sometimes without family support or a dollar in your pocket. I certainly don't have all the answers. In fact, I'm discovering how much I don't know. But I do know this: Most incarcerated veterans will eventually return to our communities. Helping them succeed isn't just good for veterans; it's good for their families, our communities, and public safety.
They served once. They've made mistakes. Let's give them a fighting chance to succeed again.

10/21/2026

Unexpected financial hardships can create significant challenges for veterans and their families. The Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services (MBVS), in partnership with Easterseals Maine - Veterans Forward, offers the Veterans' Emergency Financial Assistance Program (VEFAP) to help eligible Maine veterans facing urgent financial needs.

VEFAP provides financial assistance to help veterans overcome unexpected hardships and maintain financial stability. Assistance may be available for essential expenses, including:

Housing: Rent or mortgage payments to help prevent housing instability.

Utilities: Assistance with essential household utility expenses.

Vehicle Repairs: Emergency repairs needed to maintain reliable transportation.

Other Emergency Needs: Unexpected expenses that threaten a veteran's financial stability or ability to meet basic needs.

The program is designed to provide short-term financial relief during difficult circumstances, helping veterans maintain their independence, housing, and overall well-being.

To qualify, applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements, including Maine residency and qualifying military service. Assistance is subject to program guidelines and available funding.

How to Apply: https://fedcapmaine.org/veterans/financial-assistance-form/

10/19/2026

Thanks for thinking of us!

10/19/2026

22 Oct 2026
David Patch, President

One Veteran's Point of View
First, I've heard that some folks are confused because my articles now appear under Maine Veterans in Need. While I'm part of that organization, these articles are simply “one veteran's point of view.” So that's my new tagline. Now, back to my point of view!
On October 13, the United States Navy celebrated its 251st birthday. As a retired Navy officer, I always enjoy the occasion, although something has bothered me for years. The Navy is older than the Marine Corps, yet somehow the Marines get ahead of us!
Let me explain, it gets complicated.
On October 13, 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress authorized two armed vessels, establishing what became the Continental Navy. Twenty-eight days later, on November 10, Congress authorized two battalions of Continental Marines. Marine Corps tradition places their birthplace at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern, where, coincidentally, recruiting reportedly began.
So, the Navy came first. After all, somebody had to provide the ships for the Marines to ride around on!
Following the Revolutionary War, both services were disbanded. Now the US Congress didn't authorize a new fleet, “Navy,” until the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794. It did provide for Marines to be on board. However, the Marines weren't reestablished as a separate military service until the 5th US Congress’s “An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps of July 11, 1798.”
So, whether you count the original establishment or the reestablishment, the Navy was first. Twice!
But here's where things get interesting.
For years, the Marines actually celebrated July 11, 1798, as their birthday. Then, in 1921, Commandant John A. Lejeune directed that November 10, 1775, be recognized instead.
The Navy took a different route. For years, Navy Day was celebrated on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. It wasn't until 1972 that Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt officially designated October 13, 1775, as the Navy's birthday.
So, both services eventually reached back into history to establish their birthdays. The difference? The Marines got around to it 51 years before we did. Apparently, even the Navy's paperwork moves slower!
Now consider the official order of service flags: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Yes, the Marines are ahead of the Navy!
This order reflects longstanding military precedence rather than simply the dates Congress established the services. But if the Commandant and Chief of Naval Operations had followed the same historical rules, the Navy would be older either way.
Ask a Marine why they're ahead, and you'll probably get a confident answer. Ask a sailor, and he'll suggest the Marines need to be first in line so they don't get lost!
Of course, the Navy and Marine Corps have served and fought together for 251 years, and that relationship deserves celebrating. So, with November 10 approaching, happy birthday to all Marines. You've certainly earned it.
But remember, gentlemen, we were here first. And without the Navy, you'd have had a very long swim! Remember, this is “one veteran’s (sailor) point of view.”

10/13/2026

Changes to CMP

10/09/2026

In my last column, I wrote about Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the contributions Native Americans have made to our country, including their long history of military service. That got me thinking about my own military experiences.
I enlisted in the Navy in 1961 and eventually spent 25 years in uniform, including three tours in Vietnam. The 60s and 70s were a turbulent era in America, marked by the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassinations of President Kennedy and other leaders, the flower children and counterculture movement, deep racial tensions, and the military culture in which being gay meant living in silence, all unfolding against a backdrop of social upheaval and a nation struggling to redefine itself. So, I don’t want to paint my years in the military as some perfect example of social harmony. They weren’t. But something else was happening at the same time.
Put a group of young men from different parts of the country on a ship and send them halfway around the world, and you quickly learn something about your shipmates. You learn their skills and who needs what to be more combat-ready. You learn who needs emotional support because of family members left behind. And, pretty soon, the color of someone’s skin, where his parents came from, or what part of the country he called home became a lot less important than the fact that he was your shipmate. We didn’t always agree. We didn’t always even like each other. We certainly weren’t all the same. But we depended on each other.
That is one of the things I remember most about military service. It wasn’t that our differences disappeared. It was that we learned to work together despite those differences. I saw that with Native Americans, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and people whose families had been in this country for generations. I also served with people who had grown up in places and circumstances completely different from my own.
The uniform didn’t make us identical. It gave us something in common. I think that is an important distinction. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is about recognizing a people and a history that existed long before the United States was created. It is also an opportunity to recognize the contributions Native Americans have continued to make to this country, including their service in our military. For me, remembering that service brings back one of the most important lessons I learned in the Navy. America doesn’t require us to be the same. It requires us to find ways to live, work, and serve together.
After 25 years in the Navy, I came away believing that one of the best things about America is that people with very different backgrounds can become brothers and sisters when they have a common purpose. We didn’t always get it right. But, we learned that we were stronger when we stood together. Maybe that is something worth remembering today.

David Patch
President, MVN

10/06/2026

Event Details:



Location: Cabela’s, 100 Cabela Blvd, Scarborough, ME 04074



Date: Sunday, November 1st



Time: 10:00AM to 2:00PM (set up starting time at 8:30AM)



Cost: Free!



Event Highlights:



Access to mental health services



Connections with representatives to help build vital community ties



Information on safe-storage options focused on preventing Veteran su***de, and more!



This Expo will be an invaluable opportunity for our community to connect with Federal, State, and local resources, providing attendees with essential support and information.

You may have benefits waiting!

06/16/2026

Upcoming Statewide Veteran Events:

• June 17, 2026- MMCN Yearly Convention, Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Dr., Augusta,
ME., Time: 8:00AM to 4:00PM. Open to the public.

• June 17, 2026- Portland Homeless Outreach, 335 Lincoln St., S**o, ME., Time: 10:00AM to
2:00PM. Open to Veterans, Service members, and their families

• June 18, 2026- Portland Homeless Outreach, 55 Portland St., ME., Time: 10:00AM to 2:00PM.
Open to Veterans, Service members, and their families

• June 20, 2026- Brunswick Tractor Supply Veteran Resource Fair, 24 Farley Rd., Brunswick,
ME. Time: 9:00AM to 3:00PM. Open to the public.

• June 24, 2026- 2026 Homeless Stand Down, UMA Ellsworth Center, 218 State St., Suite 1,
Ellsworth, ME. Time: 9:00AM to 2:00PM. Open to Veterans and service members.

• June 29, 2026- Mid-Maine Shelter Homeless Outreach, 19 Colby St., Waterville, ME. Time:
10:00AM to 2:00PM. Open to Veterans, service members, and their families.

04/29/2026

TODAY! In the s**o area.