PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The National Veterans Service Commission of the Maine Elks Association named Judy Kennard of Mapleton, a member of the Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954, the Female Veteran Volunteer of the Year for 2019-2020.
During a visit to the Presque Isle lodge, Maine Elks Association President Anthony Gause presented the award, along with a flag and pen set, to Kennard.
While serving as the chairwoman of the Veterans’ Services Committee for several years, Kennard spent hours visiting the lodge’s adopted veterans. She brightened their lonely days at their nursing homes by visiting them on special occasions, such as their birthdays, and holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Veterans’ Day, July 4, Flag Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
With each visit, she would present appropriate, contemporaneous gifts to the veterans, which would provide them with a topic for conversation with future guests.
In addition, Kennard organized crews to hold Bingo games for the residents of the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou, where the residents received cash prizes and enjoyed homemade cookies, squares and cups of fresh fruit.
Presque Isle lodge officials said the award presentation by the State President buoyed Judy’s spirits as she has been fighting a difficult illness.
