Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club members gathered to place an American flag on the final resting places of each veteran at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford on Wednesday, May 24, Rotarian Marty Grohman, who has helped coordinate the event for many years, said, “The Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club is honored to be part of this project, and we are particularly pleased to include students. It reminds us all of the meaning of Memorial Day.”

Joining the event are fourth-grade students from Biddeford Intermediate School. “It’s really meaningful to work with students from the Biddeford schools to place flags on the graves of veterans, many of whom are their grandfathers and great-grandfathers,” said Grohman.

Each student is taught how to place the flags at veteran graves properly and will work with veterans from American Legion Post 26 and Vietnam Veterans of America Post 1044 within the large cemetery to place flags.

Upon returning to school, the students will be treated to an ice cream social with ice cream provided and served by American Legion Post 26. “As veterans, we honor those who came before us, and it is great to work with the next generation to do it,” said Mike Gibney, commander of American Legion Post 26 in Biddeford.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging celebrates Older Americans Month

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month is celebrated every May. Led by the Administration for Community Living  is a time to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen a commitment to honoring older citizens.

This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, offers an opportunity to explore a range of aging experiences and to promote the importance of independence and fulfillment by paving individual paths as people age.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging is doing that through its regular monthly programming to support older adults. The following are some of the educational options and community events that will be available during the month of May and continue throughout the year:

Community Cafes (multiple dates) – Provides participants with an opportunity to socialize with other attendees while enjoying a nutritious lunch. The events often include entertainment or educational components, such as this month’s visit from Youth Full Maine at the Hollis location, which provided fresh produce, locally-sourced meats, and a variety of other grocery items to Cafe attendees. It was an opportunity for intergenerational connection and provided attendees with nutritious food items to stock their homes with at no cost. Cafes are available throughout Cumberland and York counties and dates vary by location.

Family Caregiver Support Group (multiple dates) – A safe space for caregivers to connect with others in similar situations. Multiple locations and a virtual option are available.

“Every day we are focused on supporting, recognizing, and appreciating older adults, but Older Americans Month is a great opportunity to raise even more visibility for the important role older adults play in our vibrant southern Maine communities,” said Megan Walton, CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging, in an email. “As we celebrate 50 years of serving those communities, we’re excited about the variety of programming designed to support older adults that will continue throughout the year – and into the future.”

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit smaaa.org/events.html or call 207-396-6500.

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