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Brad Bean, who is retired from the U.S Navy, is a local veteran employment representative with the Maine Department of Labor.
It has been over 30 years since I wore my U.S. Navy uniform for 20 years. All these years later, it seems that Veterans Day means a little more each year. For the first few years after my military service, I shied away from letting people know I had served. Part of that was not wanting to be singled out, and part was that I really didn’t think it was a big deal, especially while I was still “transitioning” from a military lifestyle to a civilian lifestyle, a transition that took a lot longer than I expected or wanted to admit.
As time went by, I began to experience Veterans Day from the other side: The public’s appreciation for the men and women willing to sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy every day. While you are serving, you don’t fully understand the gratitude of those back home. But when you can see it from the thankful citizen’s side, it begins to mean more to you.
Here we are, 30 years later, and now I have the awesome privilege of working with veterans and transitioning service members and influencing their transition. A few years ago, I saw a veterans representative position posted with the Maine Department of Labor CareerCenter and thought, “what a cool job!” I learned that the job was about meeting the veteran exactly where they were and helping them find out what is available to them and how to overcome any barriers that may be in their way. What a privilege!
Veterans come into the CareerCenter for help finding a job and leave with so much more. Before we talk about jobs and resumes, we talk about where they are and what their needs are. Have they filed for a service-connected disability? Are they aware of the educational benefits they have earned? Are they connected to the VA? These questions help us understand the full picture and how we can best help.
And to make this easier, we live in Maine, a state with a strong reputation for being veteran friendly and leaders committed to keeping it that way. I am proud not only to say that I am a veteran, but that I am a veteran from Maine. We know how to serve those who served. I know veterans who moved to Maine because of our reputation for caring for veterans.
Over the last few years, I have seen veterans’ lives changed because they were made aware of a program designed for their situation, whether it was an educational or training program, a veteran service officer who helped them get a service-connected disability rating, or learning about the Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which helped them in a time of great need.
Another cool thing I get to do is serve as co-chair of the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign. We have a big kickoff event in Augusta and then go to other areas of the state, bringing employers and veteran resource providers together to talk with veterans and all job seekers. Our final Hire-A-Vet event of 2026 will be Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Norway Armory. I hope to see you there. Since 2015, the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign has connected more than 2,200 veterans with jobs.
If I could say one thing to all the veterans living in Maine, it would be this: Make sure you are receiving all the benefits you earned when you wore that uniform. There is so much available, and you may not know about all of it. There is more than a free lunch on Veterans Day. There could be life-changing opportunities waiting for you.
If you aren’t sure where to start, contact your local CareerCenter and ask to speak with a veterans representative.
Happy Veterans Day!