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On a cold Friday morning, about a dozen veterans from the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, Maine came to The Maine Mall to visit the Maine Garden Railway Society’s train layout and be honored.  About a dozen Society members were also present to honor the veterans.  Dick Cosgrove, Society Vice President, welcomed the veterans and thanked them for their service to our country.  It was a double celebratory event in that Jeannine Lessard, the Home’s Recreation Director, is leaving her position as of this date.  Jeannine has been escorting the veterans to Carl and Pat Churchill’s house and garden railway for many years.  She will be missed.  Carl presented to her a token of the Society’s appreciation of her association with the Society and the fine work she has done at the Veterans’ Home.

The Society also presented the veterans with several model train gifts to enhance the layout at their facility which the Society helped to set up and maintain.

A highlight of the event was a musical concert by Don Campbell accompanied by his wife Tonya Shevenell.  Don sang a medley of patriotic and holiday songs honoring the veterans’ service to our country.  He also distributed a CD of his music to the veterans.

The Mall staff, Stefanie Millette – Events Coordinator, and Craig Gorris, Mall Manager, was on hand to provide gifts and refreshments for the veterans.  Many thanks go to them for their fine efforts in making this event so successful.
After enjoying some hot chocolate and donut holes, the group posed for a picture before departing the Mall.