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Members of the University of Maine’s Navy ROTC bridged the generation gap with armed service veterans when they spent an afternoon visiting residents of the Bangor Veterans Home Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Members of the Navy ROTC helped celebrate resident’s birthdays. The residents had a room full of guests from the ROTC, as well as plenty of treats and singers from the Sunshine Band.
ROTC attempts to visit the home close to Veterans Day when they make their yearly visit, said Public Affairs Officer Keith Turner, a third-year political science major.
“I think it is important to come see them and carry on their traditions,” Turner said. “I think it’s a good experience and a way to say ‘thank you’ and brighten the day of the veterans.”
Forest Wheelock, activities director for the home, said that once a month a birthday party is held and sponsored by service groups. Usually the groups have some military ties, including the VFW or Purple Heart.
The groups give the birthday residents with a present and a personalized card. Wheelock said residents are sometimes forgotten by the community.
He said it is great to have ROTC members visit and provide community contact for the veterans.
“[Members of ROTC] come speak with residences about their times in the military,” Wheelock said. “These people are part of history and have many great stories.”
ROTC member Brain Gervais, a second-year computer science major, said he enjoys the camaraderie between the older veterans and the younger members of the Naval ROTC.
“There is knowledge of the past,” Gervais said. “We learn about our history and where we came from.”
Matthew Edwards, assistant professor of Naval Studies, said it’s interesting to hear stories from World War II. He said that the Navy wants to instill a sense of community and to have its members be good citizens.
“It’s real interesting to read history and meet the people [that were] on the ships that you have read about,” Edwards said. “It’s important to come and visit the older generation as signs of respect and tribute.”
