CARIBOU, Maine — Brig. Gen. James D. Campbell recently announced a town hall meeting to provide information concerning Agent Orange exposure at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown this Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6-8 p.m. at the Lister-Knowlton VFW Post No. 9389, at 253 Van Buren Road, Caribou, ME.
The purpose of the town hall meeting is to provide an overview of the Maine National Guard training at Gagetown, as well as to provide an update on the status of current federal legislation, information about filing claims for exposure to herbicides and to answer questions and concerns of veterans and families.
The Maine National Guard started training at Gagetown during the summer of 1971, and continued to train there annually until 2006. The Canadian military has used 40 different herbicides made up of 24 active ingredients that have two known manufacturing impurities: dioxin and hexachlorobenzene.
Although all of the chemicals used by the Canadian military other than the Agents Orange, Purple and White (provided by the U.S. Government) were commercially available and approved by the Canadian Government for use as herbicides, it does not negate the fact that some were contaminated.
The potential for exposure to military training in the sprayed areas is much different than casual exposure to the public.
The Maine National Guard and the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services take very seriously the health and safety concerns of both present soldiers and our veterans.
The town hall meeting is open to the public and all media is welcome, however parking will be limited.
