Maine Veterans' Homes - South Paris

08/05/2026

🧦💙 Thank you to Julie Deans of the South Paris VFW Post 9787 Auxiliary and Stella Paquette of Jay VFW Post 3335 for their donation of four bags of socks for our Veterans and residents!

With socks for every season, this generous gift will help keep our residents comfortable throughout the year.

07/24/2026

❤️🤍💙 Thank you to the Maine Elks Association for their incredible generosity and continued support!

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, the Maine Elks Association presented us with a beautifully handcrafted 250th Patriotic Quilt as a tribute to the Veterans we are privileged to serve.

They also made a $1,000 donation to our Resident Activity Fund, helping us continue to provide meaningful programs, special events, and enriching experiences for our residents throughout this historic year.

We are deeply grateful to the Maine Elks Association for recognizing our Veterans in such a thoughtful way and for investing in the moments that bring joy, connection, and community to those who served our nation.

Thank you for helping us celebrate America's 250th while honoring the men and women who helped protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

07/10/2026

👀Looks at these beautiful flowers gifted to our Home! They wanted to bring joy to us - mission accomplished! 🫶

07/03/2026

As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence, we reflect with gratitude on the freedoms that unite us and the generations of service members who have defended them.

To all who have worn our nation's uniform—and especially the Veterans who call Maine Veterans' Homes home—thank you. It is our privilege to care for those who served.

If you'd like to honor their service, please consider making a gift to support the residents and programs at Maine Veterans' Homes. Every donation helps enrich the lives of the Veterans we are privileged to serve.

Donate: https://bit.ly/4a5SAV2

We wish you and your loved ones a safe, joyful, and meaningful Independence Day.

❤️🤍💙

06/16/2026

💜🎉 Congratulations, Willys! 🎉💜

We are proud to celebrate Willys Johnson, a resident who was recently recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award through the Maine Health Care Association Remember ME program.

Willys attended the recognition ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center with members of his care team.

After graduating from high school, Willys entered the United States Army in 1956, serving as a Military Policeman in Korea. Assigned as a courier with a secret clearance, he transported classified documents between military and United Nations offices.

Following his military service, Willys built a remarkable career as a journalist and writer. He worked for The Norwalk Hour and the Associated Press, covered the Maine Legislature, and later reported from around the world. His career eventually took him to Vietnam, where he spent nearly two years covering the war for the Associated Press.

Please join us in congratulating Willys on this well-deserved recognition and celebrating a lifetime of service, leadership, and achievement. 👏💜

06/16/2026

We're honored to celebrate South Paris resident and Veteran Willys Johnson as part the MHCA Remember ME program. Check out his incredible story. 💜💙

Willys Johnson, Maine Veterans' Homes, South Paris

Willys Johnson was born on November 10, 1938, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and raised in New Canaan. He remembers roaming the woods and swimming in the Five Mile River with neighborhood friends, often playing “war games” inspired by the times. Those early experiences, along with the military service of family members, helped shape his strong sense of duty and curiosity about the world.

After graduating high school, Willys entered the United States Army in 1956. He trained as a military policeman and, after receiving a secret clearance, was assigned as a courier in Korea. With his own driver and a quarter-ton truck, he transported classified documents between ASCOM, Seoul, and United Nations offices. While stationed there, Willys worked alongside a reporter from the Detroit Free Press, who mentored him and sparked a passion for journalism and storytelling.

When he returned home in 1959, Willys got a job at The Norwalk Hour, beginning a career that would take him around the world. He later joined the Associated Press, covering the Maine Legislature in Augusta before assignments in Boston and New York. His adventurous spirit led him to Australia, where he became Chief Night Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. In 1969, Willys was assigned to the Associated Press bureau in Saigon, where he spent nearly two years covering the Vietnam War at its height. After returning home, he married his sweetheart, Chris, and together they settled in Maine. The letters they exchanged while Willys was abroad remain his most cherished possessions.

In addition to his journalism career, Willys is a published author. He wrote The Girl Who Would Be Russian: And Other Stories and The Year of the Longley, reflecting his gift for storytelling and understanding of people, history, and politics. A soldier, journalist, author, world traveler, and devoted husband, Willys Johnson’s life reflects courage, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to truth and service.

Photography by Sarah Labonte, Westbrook

06/15/2026

We're continuing our celebration of CNA Week by highlighting more of the incredible caregivers who make a difference every day.

Earlier in the week, we featured members of our first shift team. Today, we're shining a spotlight on CNAs from other shifts who help ensure our residents receive compassionate care and support around the clock.

We asked, "What do you enjoy most about caring for Veterans at MVH?" Check out the photo captions for their responses.

Please join us in thanking these amazing team members for their dedication. 🎉

06/11/2026

Happy CNA Week! 💙

This week, we proudly celebrate our Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Certified Residential Medication Aides (CRMAs) who provide exceptional care and support to the Veterans we are honored to serve.

The National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) has chosen the theme "We're Unbelievable" for CNA Week 2026, and these team members show us exactly why every day.

Pictured here are just a few of the incredible CNAs and CRMAs from our first shift team who make a difference in the lives of our residents every day. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment help create a true sense of home and embody our mission of Caring for Those Who Served.

We recently asked a few of them, "What do you enjoy most about caring for Veterans at MVH?" Take a moment to read their responses and join us in thanking these amazing caregivers during CNA Week! 🎉💙

Stay tuned—we'll be highlighting members of our second and third shift teams later this week.

06/04/2026

☀️ Looking for extra income this summer?

Summer is a great time to join us as a per diem team member. As our full-time staff take well-deserved vacations, we're looking for caring professionals to help support our residents and pick up flexible shifts.

Plus, with Tapcheck, you can access your earned wages before payday. 💸

Current per diem opportunities include:

✔️ CRMA w/ PSS or CNA
✔️ CNA
✔️ RN
✔️ LPN
✔️ Food Service Worker
✔️ Activities Aide (CNA Required)

Whether you're looking for a few shifts a month or a flexible way to earn extra income, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today: https://bit.ly/4ae4DQV

06/04/2026

Elvis left our Home “All Shook Up” during his recent visit! 🎤🎶💙

Residents had a wonderful time singing along, dancing, laughing, and enjoying all their favorite Elvis hits. 👑🎵