LEWISTON — “Maine Veterans Stand Up and Be Counted Day” is Saturday, Feb. 28, by proclamation of Gov. Paul LePage.

Veterans service posts are encouraged to hold open houses to help sign veterans up for Veterans Administration health care.

According to the governor’s 2012 proclamation, there are approximately 140,000 veterans living in the state. Of those, only 30 percent have applied for available health benefits and only 2 percent of veterans eligible for state and federal educational benefits have applied.

Veterans seeking help with benefits should contact their local post, the VA at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or go to www.va.gov.