SOUTHERN MIDCOAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE President Steve Wallace, who served in the Marine Corps for 21 years, speaks to members of the Freeport Flag Lasdies at the 42nd Annual Joshua Chamerlain Award and Veterans Gala at the Bath Golf Club Wednesday.
Wilda Steinkuhler was recognized Wednesday as the Mid-coast’s longest-living veteran.
A Navy medic and Korean War active-duty servicewoman who also toured with the Marines and served at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, Steinkuhler, of Brunswick, was recognized Wednesday for 30 years of service at the 42nd Annual Joshua Chamerlain Award and Veterans Gala, held at the Bath Golf Club.
Steinkuhler has been decorated with the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Recognized for standout service by the states of Missouri — her native state — and Maine, she recently celebrated her 95th birthday.
Presented with the distinguished Silver Eagle Award, the region’s senior veteran accepted the esteemed gift with a modest yet tack-sharp smile.
She said she felt awed by the honor and the engraved silver plate. “I’m so privileged,” she said.
The Joshua Chamberlain Award went to Bowdoinham’s Peter Feeney, a merchant marine with a graduate degree in engineering who operates Long Branch General Store, in Bowdoinham with his wife, business partner, employees and instructors. The threetier operation includes a workshop, store and a school teaching selfreliance to veterans and others.
Several local entities were honored at Wednesday’s ceremony for serving veterans, including the- Freeport Flag Ladies, Bonney Staffing, Idexx, Raoy Poulin, Bob Traill and Candice Carpenter.
The ceremony is named for Joshua Chamberlain, the Bowdoin College graduate and professor, Maine governor and statesman who is credited with high valor at the Battle of Gettysburg at the Civil War, which is being remembered 150 years later.
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