American Legion Post 24 in Rumford held their 12th Annual Women Veterans Luncheon on Nov. 15, 2025. It was well attended, with 63 veterans coming from all over the state of Maine for this event. We may come from all walks of life, but everyone comes for a day to connect with others who have served and enjoy the camaraderie some of us still miss when we leave military service. For some it may be their first year of attending, for others it may be their 12th year.
We enjoyed a morning of visiting with one another, did a take-home item that each person created as a memory of the current year, enjoyed a reiki session, sought out provided resources, and enjoyed a sit-down meal prepared by our American Legion Family members and served by our local scouts and their leaders. Teresa Drag from Quilts of Valor attended and presented quilts to three deserving veterans. It was an honor to help wrap these veterans in their quilts. All is all it is a day of camaraderie, fun and empowerment.
There are so many to thank when it comes to this event! I want to personally thank our amazing American Legion Family members of Post, Unit and Squadron 24. Without them this event would not be done year after year. From setting up the hall to breaking it all down, they were there to support in any way they could. I thank our American Legion Department of Maine’s Women Veterans Advisory Committee for attending and for their support. We thank our local Scouts and their leaders for supporting throughout the day with serving, presenting thank-you cards and delivering gifts to our veterans. Thank you to our local businesses, individuals, and those from other Maine Legion family who supported with gifts for our women veterans. Thank you, Birdie Rocray and Doreen Madore, for providing reiki to our veterans. Thank you to our local Western Maine Witches on the Water for once again coming to perform for us. Thank you, Department Auxiliary PR Chair Carol Roach, for capturing so many wonderful moments throughout the day. Thank you, Maine American Legion and Post Historian Louie Marin, for the morning visit and for taking a few of the morning photos. A special thank you to our Department of Maine President Linda Jack and her husband Randy for attending and spending the day with us.
It truly takes a village to make this event happen year after year. We are exhausted when it is over, but we know how very important it is that we continue to hold this event as well as other women-veteran gatherings held by other American Legion Families throughout the state. Until next year I say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that was accomplished this year, and I thank all veterans for their service and sacrifices.

Department of Maine PDC and Women Veterans Advisory Committee Chair
Tricia Thurston