ORONO – Maine’s National Guard members who have been deployed under Operation Global War on Terror and their families were special guests at a hockey game and concert on Super Sunday, Nov. 27, at the University of Maine.

Thanks to a grassroots effort called Operation Community Support, more than 200 military families attended a Maine hockey game at Alfond Arena and the Beach Boys concert at the Maine Center for the Arts.

Families came from as far away as Houlton, Calais and Westbrook, according to OCS coordinator Thomas “Skip” Chappelle.

Gov. John E. Baldacci and his son, Jack, and Harold Alfond were in attendance at the hockey game featuring the Black Bears, who took on the University of Vermont Catamounts.

“I was pleased to join Super Sunday at UMaine to honor our Maine National Guard soldiers and their families,” Baldacci said. “Maine has such a long and proud history of service to the nation in times of peace and war. In fact, Maine has one of the highest rates of veterans in proportion to the general population in the country.

“Members of Maine National Guard contribute greatly to the general health and welfare of the State, and all citizens in Maine greatly appreciate and revere the service of our National Guard members,” the governor said. “It’s crucial that we do all we can to show our support for those who are deployed and to their families. I appreciate the generous contributions that made Super Sunday at UMaine such a great success, and would especially like to recognize Operation Community Support, the University of Maine and the Maine Center for the Arts.”

Also on Nov. 27, Governor’s Restaurant gave each military family member who attended the hockey game a coupon for 10 percent off any entree that day.

The Maine Center for the Arts and the University of Maine Athletic Department are offering tickets to performances at the center and to men’s and women’s basketball games. These are available to military members who have been deployed under Operation Global War on Terror, and their families.

To utilize this offer, the service member or family must e-mail or call Amy Munroe, (888) 365-9287, at the Family Assistance Center, no later than two days prior to the event taking place.

Tickets are for the service member and immediate family.

Along with the Maine Air National Guard, the Maine Army National Guard will deploy nearly 300 service members within the next month.

The goal of Operation Community Support is to enhance military family assistance programs with existing community resources, providing support to families while guard members are deployed.

“Battle Buddies” include Dead River Co., Bank of America, Black Bear Inn, First Horizon, General Electric, Realty of Maine, Maine Savings Bank, Pro Realty, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the University of Maine Foundation, the Maine Center for the Arts, the Bangor Daily News, Governor’s Restaurant, Leadbetter Super Stops, the City of Brewer, Downeast Toyota, the University of Maine Alumni Association, VanSyckle Lincoln Mercury Kia Suzuki, Maine Real Estate Management, Whited Ford and Antique Marketplace and Cafe.