FARMINGTON — Three special services were held Friday to honor veterans living at Orchard Park and Edgewood Manor rehabilitation and living centers, and The Pierce House.

“We’ll recognize you once, twice, 10 times,” Lt. Col. Peter Ogden, director for the Maine Bureau of Veteran Services, told the veterans.

State Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, and present and past commanders of American Legion Post 28 joined Ogden to present certificates through the Honoring Veterans From a Grateful State program. Ogden also acknowledged veterans through a Gold Star program.

“There are 150,000 living veterans in Maine,” he told those at Edgewood, 221 Fairbanks Road. “My goal is to shake every hand and say ‘thank you.'”

Post 28 Past Commander Charles Bennett told each group that they were now honorary members of the Post in Farmington.

Bennett and Saviello started a program honoring veterans five years ago. Area veterans were invited and acknowledged but some were forgotten, Bennett said. He has pushed for services like those Friday to acknowledge veterans in nursing homes, he said.

Post Commander David Targett also thanked the veterans for their service. 

Certificates with replicas of the plaque hanging in the Hall of Flags were given to each veteran by Ogden.

“We haven’t forgotten you, we’ve just misplaced you for 60-plus years” he told the World War II veterans.

For Annette Sparks of Vienna, the only female veteran at Edgewood Manor, Ogden provided a silver medal for her service. Sparks served in the Coast Guard from 1940 to 1943, he said.

Those honored at Orchard Park, 107 Orchard St., included Robert Farrington, Paul Sproul, Bruce Arnold, Robert Mason and Joseph Jacques.

Those at Edgewood Manor included Lawrence Berry, Merlin White, Nelson Scott, Wendall Steward, Charles Harris, Lendall Drown, Sparks, Norman Kane, Lauriston Sweet, Arthur Porter, Nicholas Whittemore and Earle McIntosh.

Veterans honored at The Pierce House, 204 Main St., included Harold Blood and Hugh “Bob” Barkley.

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