Last week was the State of Maine's 198th birthday, and some very cool Mainers at sea celebrated!

Check out these photos provided by our United State Navy of Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Edwin Bennett, from Milford, Maine, Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Timothy Riegel, from Windham, Maine, and Chief Information Systems Technician Marguerite Emmons, from Augusta, Maine, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).  Look as they proudly display our State flags!

"Mainers are a very rugged and individualistic type of people", said Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Timothy Riegel from Windham in a press release.  "They lead themselves, they're proud, and they don't always want to ask for help. Being in the Navy, I've learned with being able to lead our junior Sailors."

Maine Sailors Celebrate State's Birthday

"I always grew up with the idea that there's isn't a can't, only a can", said Chief Information Systems Technician Marguerite Emmons from Augusta.  "You're just going to have to find a way."

"I think that the state's motto pairs very well with the ship's", said Bennett. "If you have integrity, and you lead everything that you do with integrity, people will naturally want to follow you and do what you do.  It's not just being like the North, it's also saying "Dirigo." I lead, watch me, do as I do, because I am doing the right thing.  If you do the right thing, people will guide off you."

Thank you to these wonderful Mainers, and thank you for being part of our great U.S. Military!

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