Honor Flight a Wonderful Experience

Last weekend, I was so fortunate, as a veteran of World War 2, to be awarded an Honor Flight to my nation’s capital. I was one of 27 WWII Maine veterans to be so honored. It was a wonderful experience that shall never forget.

The stated purpose of the trip was to enable those of us who had never before viewed it, to see the relatively new World War II Memorial. But the weekend provided so much more. Camaraderie. A chance to tell our stories. and THEIR History to successor generations. An opportunity to enjoy the monumentality of Washington and, unexpectedly, the history and recent experiences of Baltimore from the lips of of one of its community-proud citizens. A talk by the Commandant of Camp Meade, one of our nation’s largest military installations, and one at the forefront of evolving technology. And above all, the friendship of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people along the way.

Each veteran was provided with a wheelchair and a “guardian” to push it, as well as to accompany and assist his or her charge. All the guardians and all the leaders of Honor Flight Maine are unpaid volunteers. What amazed me most was the planning foresight and successful execution of those plans for the smooth and flawless movement of 27 aged veterans, their guardians, the organizers, and scads of equipment. Every attention was paid to our safety and comfort. If the reader is a WW2 vet, or the friend or relative of a WWII vet, please consider your or their participation either as a veteran or a volunteer. There is no cost at all to the veteran for the flight, food, accommodations or even the many souvenirs that he might be accorded.

Take it from this almost-90 year old veteran, that I have never spent as emotionally gratifying a weekend in my life. At our Welcome Home celebration at Portland Jetport, very few of our 54 ancient eyes were dry. I understand that there are still a few vacancies on the one remaining 2016 Maine Honor Flight, scheduled for late October. If interested, or if you know someone who might be interested, here’s where: Honor Flight Maine, P.O. Box 1770, Portland, ME, 04101-1770 or (207) 370-7210, You won’t be disappointed.

James M. Friedlander

Brunswick

Re-Elect Tepler for Topsham

Topsham citizens have been fortunate over the last two years to be represented by our own Denise Tepler at the State House District 54, Topsham. Rep. Tepler has made it her full-time job to work energetically and effectively in the legislature, and to keep in good communication with her constituents with her regular printed newsletters and email updates. She has been extremely responsive to needs and requests of her constituents, helping people connect with state government to address any problems or needs they may have. We now have the opportunity to re-elect Denise Tepler in the coming election.

As a member of the Taxation Committee, Denise became fully informed of all the challenges of balancing tax burdens with public needs. She sponsored a bill to restore full revenue sharing to the towns to help keep property taxes low. She helped achieve a hard-on compromise to secure state funding for public education to both protect public schools from cuts, and to protect local property taxpayers from cost shifts during the upcoming school year.

The legislature adopted a number of tax relief incentives for Maine’s small businesses and self-employed people, to boost growth of those businesses. They also achieved tax relief measures for Maine’s middle class which include deductions for higher education expenses, mortgage insurance deductions, and an enhanced child care tax credit. These are real solutions to everyday economic challenges faced by hard-working middle class Mainers.

Denise Tepler is strongly committed to economic growth in Topsham and in the state of Maine. She cares deeply about the quality of life for her constituents and all the people of Maine. Denise has a ton of energy, and she applies it to listening to the needs of people she talks to in Topsham, working hard to research possible solutions, and networking with others to solve problems. You won’t find a smarter, harder working or more willing public servant.

Please join me in re-electing Denise Tepler to the State House of Representatives this November.

Laura Whatley,

Topsham

More Support for Tepler

I’ve known Denise Tepler for 17 years. It remains a distinct pleasure for me to support her incumbency as my Representative in Maine’s House District 54. I firmly believe that Denise continues to deserve my support because of her record of active representation of Topsham’s needs during her tenure in office.

In addition to what I regard as splendid attentiveness to the town’s needs, Denise’s keen intelligence, and persistence in pursuit of good legislation are just the qualities we need in Augusta. They indicate to me that her to return to her representative’s seat is in my and our clear interest.

Denise brings with her an ability to really listen with complete attention, which magnifies her genuine personal warmth. She has an energetic approach to life, which enables her to function at a high level in our legislature. When Denise speaks, I believe others listen because of these qualities.

At a time when politics has generally become so divisive, Denise Tepler stands out as someone who can reach “across the aisle,” listen effectively to others’ viewpoints and thus help bring bills to life. That is the stuff that helps make Maine a place I’m proud to call home. I urge everyone who cares about Topsham’s future and good government to join me in supporting the re-election of Denise Tepler to Maine’s House of Representatives.

Charles B. Arnold,

Topsham