Maine Veterans’ Services updates office protocols

4 years ago

AUGUSTA, Maine — In an effort to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services will continue to serve the public by phone appointment, video appointments and a video intercom system with secure drop boxes for customers who wish to deliver documents in person. 

The local office is in Caribou at 14 Access Highway, Suite 5. 

The bureau also has field offices in Machias, Bangor, Lewiston, Portland and Springvale, an office at the VA Maine Healthcare System at Togus, and a central office in Augusta located at Camp Keyes.  All offices are currently staffed and open to assist veterans by phone appointment, or Skype appointment.

Any veteran wishing to speak with a veteran service officer should complete the following online form, maine.gov/veterans/docs/MBVS-Request-Form-Online-Fillable.pdf, and return it to the bureau.  Forms can be emailed to mainebvs@maine.gov or mailed to the office on the back of the form.   

“The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services has continued to provide needed services to Maine veterans over the past few months,” stated David Richmond, bureau director. “We understand the importance and significance of veterans meeting with our veteran service officers to discuss their individual circumstances; however, we must also take into consideration the health and well-being of those veterans we represent.”

Richmond said bureau offices are staffed during normal hours and will work to meet veterans’ needs via remote communication and secure drop boxes. 

“At the same time, the urgent services that we provide such as helping homeless veterans and conducting burials at the veterans’ cemeteries will continue as they have, taking all possible and necessary precautions,” Richmond said.

  Veterans can receive immediate assistance with: homelessness, cemetery services and burials, financial hardship and VA claim services.  All routine/non-emergent requests can be made via email or regular mail.  Routine requests include: veteran recognition requests, state park and museum pass requests, hunting/fishing licenses, and DD214 requests.  

For more information or to make an appointment with a VSO, please visit the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services website at: http://maine.gov/veterans.