US Family Health Plan at Martin's Point Honors Veterans with Celebration Luncheon

Children's essays, keynote speech, Windham Chamber Singers highlight patriotic event in South Portland

PORTLAND, Maine - More than 350 area veterans and family members were honored at a rousing Veterans Day celebration luncheon hosted by the US Family Health Plan at Martin's Point at the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland on Tuesday.

The often-moving event included patriotic songs by the Windham Chamber Singers, a display of essays written by area fourth-graders, and a keynote address by Maj. General Joseph E. Tinkham, II, a Vietnam veteran who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, and as the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard.

Martin's Point is one of six designated providers nationwide of the Department of Defense's US Family Health Plan, which provides health care services to families of active-duty military personnel, and retirees and their eligible family members. The US Family Health Plan at Martin's Point serves almost 20,000 members across northern New England.

"As an organization, we felt that it was important to honor and say thanks to the military retirees as well as the active-duty personnel who continue to sacrifice for their country," said David Howes, M.D., president of Martin's Point and program director for the US Family Health Plan, who introduced Tinkham.

Tinkham focused his speech to the packed room on the war in Iraq and the need to continue to support the troops and ensure that the United States succeeds in its mission to remove oppression and restore freedom.

Attendees also were impressed by a display of winning patriotic essays from a contest among fourth-graders at Longfellow School in Brunswick and Manchester School in Windham.

The Windham Chamber Singers capped the event with stirring renditions of such songs as "Shenandoah," "An American Hymn," "Body Electric" and "Joyful Joyful."

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