Kids are invited to come meet veterans from our local community to develop connections between the generations at a Meet a Veteran program at the Windham Veterans Center from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Hosted by the Windham Public Library, the Windham Veterans Center, American Legion Field-Allen Post 148, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643, the event tries to help veterans build relationships with younger members of the community.
“I think different generations have a lot to learn from each other, and I hope this makes everyone feel a little more connected,” Cote said. “This is the first time we have done something like this, and I hope it’s not the last.”
“We’re going to have veterans from different branches of service give brief overviews of their time in their branch of the armed services, followed by a Q&A,” Cote said. “Kids will also see a flag folding ceremony, tour the Windham Vets Center, and have some snacks.”
The event developed from a proclamation issued by the Windham Town Council honoring veterans as part of the country’s 250th birthday celebrations, and the librarian’s drive to find a way to tie it to the library’s young visitors.
“The Windham Town Council made a proclamation that said they wanted to honor veterans as part of Windham’s America250 programming and celebration,” Cote said. “I liked that idea and thought about how I could apply that to the programming I do for children at the library.”
Cote’s brainstorming led her to an idea that would give kids who pass through the library the chance to write letters to veterans. Working with Alola Morrison and John Facella from American Legion Post 148, the idea bloomed into giving kids a chance to learn about those who have chosen to serve in the military.
“Alola suggested that we do something at the Windham Vets Center, because she thought that children would write better letters if they had context for what veterans did for our country,” Cote said. “We decided that having something at the Vets Center where kids could hear from vets would be a good starting point.”
“Alola and I can have a lot of ideas, and John was helpful in whittling it down so it would fit reasonably within an hour and a half,” she said.
Finding a date, however, was challenging, as summer winds down and families look to enjoy the last nice days of the season before school starts again the first week of September.
“We wanted as many people as possible to attend, so we looked for a date that would work for both families and the Windham Vets Center, and we came up with Aug. 26, a Wednesday before school starts, in the morning,” Cote said. “Six kids have registered so far. It would also be nice for the veterans that have volunteered to speak to have a bit of a crowd.”
Participants, including veterans looking to join, are asked to register by calling the Windham Public Library at 207-892-1908, ext. 4. Cote is asking for registrations by Friday, Aug. 21 so that the appropriate amount of food can be ordered.
Transportation to the center may be available for veterans. The Windham Veterans Center is located at 35 Veterans Memorial Drive, behind Renys Department Store in the Windham Mall.
More details can be found on the Windham Public Library website at www.windham.lib.me.us. <
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