Maine National Guard Hosts 26th Annual Northern New England Military Retiree Activity Day

Tech. Sgt. Sarah Myrick

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AUGUSTA, ME (08/20/2024) (readMedia)-- The Maine National Guard welcomed over 150 military retirees and veterans to Camp Chamberlain for the 26th annual Northern New England Military Retiree Activity Day on Aug. 17, 2024. This regional event, which rotates between Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, returned to Maine, offering a robust lineup of resources and services to the military community.

Originally designed to inform military retirees about available benefits and services, the event has evolved into a broader gathering, serving both retirees and veterans.

"The event was originally developed to provide information to military retirees on the different benefits and services available to help them but has morphed into a retiree and veteran-focused event," said Sgt. 1st Class Andrei Mellits, State Retirement Services Officer for the Maine National Guard.

This year's event featured over 40 vendors, including prominent organizations like USAA, the American Legion, the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, and the Armed Forces Retiree Association. Attendees had access to a variety of services, including Judge Advocate General legal services, an ID card station, and briefings from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Tri-care, and Martin's Point Healthcare.

"The biggest obstacle we see when it comes to retirement is the unknown," said Mellits, highlighting the importance of events helping veterans navigate the complexities of retirement benefits. "Veterans get their retirement letter, and they throw it in a drawer somewhere and don't know what they're eligible for."

To address this, the Maine National Guard conducts about a dozen retirement briefings annually, ensuring that Maine's Soldiers and Airmen and their families are well-informed about their benefits before reaching retirement.

As the event concluded, Mellits encouraged all eligible individuals to attend next year's gathering in New Hampshire.

"Things change all the time, and not every event has the same vendors," he noted. "There are close to 40 vendors, and there's only so much time, making it difficult to visit each one in a day."

The Northern New England Military Retiree Activity Day remains a vital resource for the military community, offering a platform for veterans and retirees to connect, learn, and access the support they need.

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Photo Captions:

Vendors and veterans discuss retiree benefits at 26th Annual Northern New England Military Retiree Activity Day hosted by the Maine National Guard on Aug. 17, 2024, at Camp Chamberlain in Augusta, ME.

Photos by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Myrick, Maine National Guard.