BRUNSWICK, Maine — American Legion Post 20 in Brunswick was officially dedicated Saturday with a visit from Gov. Paul LePage and his wife, Ann LePage.
The post had been without a home for about 30 years before the Legion took over the former Evergreen Center on Columbus Avenue.
In attendance at the packed hall was National Commander Michael Helm and former National Commander Anthony Jordan.
In addressing the crowd, Helm pointed out a couple of, perhaps, grayer members before saying, “You know, old people!” The crowd laughed as Helm addressed concerns that the American Legion was fading away.
“Well, as a matter of fact, we’re not because I look out here and I see young people — I see young Legionaries, I see young auxiliary, I see young families and that’s who we are in the American Legion,” Helm said.
“I’m really, really proud to be able to participate in this ceremony,” said the governor. “Ann and I — as you know — the military is very dear to us.”
LePage also took the opportunity to praise Maine law enforcement personnel.
“Here in Maine we have a lot of pride in our law enforcement officials because they are doing superhuman work with limited resources and they respect Maine people,” LePage continued. “They are our day-to-day warriors on the streets here at home while our veterans — to their great credit — have been able to keep the battles and the fighting offshore … while we just stay here in this country and honor and respect the work they do to keep us free.”
“And you all know me as one to take advantage of my First Amendment rights,” LePage said. “I say it the way I damn well please because I have the military having my back overseas, taking care of all the other folks in the world and in many, many nations they don’t have the privilege that we have here in our country.”
LePage thanked the veterans and those currently serving in the military and had a message for the children in the audience.
“And I need to apologize to the children because you are going to be inheriting an $18 trillion debt that you’re going to have to pay because of the decisions of us older folks,” he said. “I can guarantee you I wasn’t part of it.”
He also addressed a tumultuous week in state government, marked by Friday’s Maine Supreme Judicial Court hearing on 65 vetoes that legislative leaders deemed to be out of order because LePage did not submit them to the Legislature for override votes within the 10 days allowed by the Maine Constitution.
LePage has argued that the 10-day window had not closed because lawmakers left Augusta in a move that he interpreted as adjournment. Legislative leaders — with the exception of House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport — say the bills became law without the governor’s signature when the 10 days lapsed.
“The court is facing a very monstrous decision, and I pray that they make the right decision, which, in my mind, is to send it back to the Legislature, and let’s have the proper debate on those bills,” LePage said Saturday.
The governor also addressed a lawsuit filed against him by House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, who claims LePage pressured the leaders of Good Will-Hinckley, which runs a charter school, to terminate their contract with Eves to run the operation.
“Secondly, there is a political lawsuit out there,” LePage said, addressing the Legion. “And I call it ‘political,’ because I have not been served yet. But it’s been in the papers. I don’t know how you sue somebody but you go to the papers before you sue the person. But I did manage to read it last night. And I will tell you this, from the bottom of my heart, the only thing that’s been correct in that lawsuit is they spelt my name correctly with a big ‘P.’”
Ann LePage took the podium and said that she and the governor were at an Army National Guard event earlier Saturday in Augusta, joking that the appearances were “like a two-for-one special at Marden’s.”
“A simple thank you is never enough,” she said. “We’ve got a lot more work to do in the state of Maine for you folks and we’re going to do it.”
Ann LePage gave special thanks to an 89-year-old veteran, Conrad LeBourdais, who presented her with a decorated baseball bat with the advice, “Don’t be afraid to use this,” which was greeted with applause.