Congressman Jared Golden told dozens of people attending the annual SMCC-USM veterans appreciation breakfast that his time in the military was the 鈥渂est collective experience鈥� of his life.
Golden was the keynote speaker at the event, which was held virtually Wednesday morning, the day before Veterans Day. SMCC and the University of Southern Maine have been holding the event together in recent years to pay tribute to veterans.
Golden, who represents Maine’s 2nd District in Congress, enlisted in the Marines following 9/11 and spent combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. After the military, he returned to Maine and used his veterans benefits to attend Bates College.
鈥淜eep your heads up,鈥� he told veterans at the event via Zoom from Washington, D.C. 鈥淏e proud of your service. Be proud of what you鈥檙e doing today.鈥�
More than three dozen people attended Thursday鈥檚 event, including SMCC President Joe Cassidy and USM President Glenn Cummings, both of whom spoke of their appreciation for veterans and all they contribute to the schools.
Also speaking were Ben Henckel, a Navy veteran who attends SMCC, and Trevor Engling, a Navy veteran and one-time SMCC student who is now earning his graduate degree at USM.
Henckel said his transition from the military to SMCC was 鈥減retty painless,鈥� in part because of the student support that was available.
鈥淚f you need help, reach out,鈥� he said. 鈥淓veryone wants you to succeed.鈥�