One of the best ways to help a veteran is to hire them, American Legion Post 54 of Wiscasset Cmdr. William Cossette Jr. told attendees of the post’s Veterans Day service Sunday.

The morning’s cold and wind drew several comments from speakers. Cossette invited bundled attendees at the veterans wall on the municipal building lawn to move in closer to hear better and be warmer. "You can cuddle, it's all right," he said to smiles and laughter. "I want to welcome everyone here in this weather. It's not very nice but at least it's not raining."

At one point, Cossette held Church of the Nazarene co-pastor Wally Staples’ wind-rustled speech down to the stand for him. Staples jokingly asked that the wind be turned down. Later, Cossette had no takers on his offer to skip his speech he said was a message from the national American Legion.

In it, Cossette said veterans have a higher rate of homelessness than those who have not served their country. The causes include unemployment and self-medication, so veterans need treatment and jobs, he continued.

He and Staples encouraged people to remember veterans' and their families' sacrifices. Show veterans the respect they deserve and need, Staples said.

Staples kept with his tradition to recite the "God Bless the U.S.A." song Lee Greenwood made popular. And Denise Reynolds, in sunglasses with the sun on her and on the names of wars and local veterans on the wall behind her, got long applause for her singing of "America the Beautiful."