LEWISTON — Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., the past national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said his organizations have big buildings at both the national headquarters in Kansas City and in Washington, D.C.

But it’s the 1.2 million members of the VFW and the 600,000-plus members of the Ladies Auxiliary who serve and take care of veterans across the country that’s the lifeblood of the organization.

“The heart of the VFW is right here in this building,” Tradewell said in his opening remarks at the 95th annual Maine VFW convention at the Ramada Inn.

With State Cmdr. Ronald Smith overseeing the opening session, several dignitaries welcomed the veterans to Lewiston for the three-day convention, including Maine Gov. Paul LePage and first lady Ann LePage.

“Thank you all for your service to our nation, mentoring our youth and volunteering in all of our communities,” LePage said.

The governor, who was born and raised in Lewiston, talked about his memories of U.S. Army medic Thomas J. McMahon, who died in Vietnam at age 20 attempting to rescue three wounded soldiers — successfully carrying two to safety before being killed while trying to reach the third soldier.

McMahon received the Medal of Honor. McMahon Elementary School in Lewiston is named for him.

“I remember Tom in high school,” LePage said. “I used to say this, ‘If there is a fearless man in this school, it is Thomas.'”

The governor touched upon his budget battle with the Maine Legislature and tried to put it in perspective with the veterans in attendance.

“We’re in right now a major political battle, both here in our capital in Maine and in Washington,” LePage said. “There’s gridlock. It means absolutely nothing compared to all you have given us.”

Ann LePage talked about her admiration for Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, a Maine veteran in the 82nd Airborne who lost portions of both arms and both legs in Afghanistan. Mills is one of five quadruple amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his wounds.

Since starting a foundation to help veterans, Mills recently purchased the Maine Chance Lodge in Rome, Maine. The former estate and spa of cosmetics pioneer Elizabeth Arden will be turned into a retreat for disabled and wounded veterans, Ann LePage said.

Before the start of the conference, Tradewell said that the role of the VFW is to help the military stay strong, to promote patriotism and to take care of veterans.

The VFW helped score a major victory recently with the help of several Maine veterans who arrived in Washington to testify and lobby members of Congress, Tradewell said.

In a matter of three weeks, pressure by veteran groups and Congress convinced the Department of Veterans Affairs to relax its policy on how far veterans had to live from a VA hospital before getting treatment from a closer, private facility, he said.

Tradewell said he is starting to see younger veterans getting involved in the VFW, especially after the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan understand what the organization has done in the past and how it is helping now.

“It’s important that our veterans are taken care of,” Tradewell said. “George Washington said a long time ago that a country that does not take care of its veterans won’t be long on this planet.”

ssherlock@sunjournal.com