Shock pervades veterans convention in Bangor

BANGOR -Things were shaping up to be business as usual at the 31st annual state convention of the Disabled American Veterans on Friday, until guest speaker Gov. John Baldacci announced the recommendations that will be made to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, known as BRAC.

Baldacci, addressing the veterans and veteran advocates at the convention, held at the Four Points Sheraton , made it clear that the sweeping changes and closures recommended for Maine would not be accepted without a fight.

“This is unacceptable for both national security and for the state,” he said. “This weekend we will be going over this information, so we can address this. We have until Sept. 8.”

States are allowed to protest the base closings and have until Sept. 8 to submit their proposed changes to the recommendations. Proposed closings in Maine include the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Limestone, the Naval Reserve Center in Bangor, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, as well as the loss of about half of the Brunswick Naval Air Station’s active duty personnel.

Reactions from the veterans present were by and large shock.

“I’m devastated,” said Dana Beals, an army veteran from Blaine, near Houlton, who served in Vietnam. “I’m mostly upset about how this will affect the state of Maine. It’s not good.”

Roger Cloutier, senior vice commander for the 1st chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, based in the Augusta area, said the announcement hit hard.

“I’m truly shocked,” he said. “But I think we have a good governor, and he’ll put up a fight. We can’t let this happen.”

About 200 people had registered for the convention, set to run from Friday morning until Saturday night. Meetings of the DAV executive committee, a memorial service, elections for DAV and DAV Auxiliary positions, a banquet and various speakers were planned for the event.

Other topics for consideration at the convention were typical concerns, such as pensions and death benefits, as well as proposed bills on the state and federal level that potentially could cut the veterans affairs budget.

Dale Demers, regional office director for Togus Veterans Affairs, reported a great deal of progress being made at the medical center, though he noted some inevitable setbacks.

“We’ve had a 25 percent decline in World War II veterans since 2000,” he said, reporting that numbers for Korean vets utilizing Togus had stayed relatively the same, while the numbers of Vietnam and Gulf War vets had risen steadily.

“Benefits have only increased in the past five years,” Demers said. “We are here to help. When we get a claim [at Togus], we say: ‘What can we do to get this veteran this claim? Can we give him 100 percent?'”

Demers also noted that Togus was No. 2 in the nation for the dollar amount paid to veterans and was No. 4 in the nation in terms of overall care.

The hot topic during the morning part of the convention, however, remained the base closings.

“My heart stopped when I heard,” Ronald Brodeur, DAV adjutant and an Air Force retiree, said. “It really could detract from veterans issues. I just think, what kinds of thoughts are going through the heads of people serving and thinking about serving when they hear this?

“There’s already such a problem with recruiting and retention,” he continued. “This just doesn’t look good, especially in a time of war.”