Maine Democratic Party establishes College Fund for children of Guardsman

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Dear Democrat:

Earlier today I sent you an e-mail about our friend and colleague Patrick Damon and his untimely death.

As I said in that e-mail, Patrick was survived by his wife Hildi and their two young children.

Patrick and Hildi’s daughter Mikayla is 14 and their son Jan-Christian is 12. College is not far off for either of them.

Won’t you please take a moment to make a contribution of any amount towards their college educations?

Checks can be made out to the Mikayla and Jan-Christian Damon College Fund and mailed directly to:

Mikayla and Jan-Christian Damon College Fund
c/o Merrill Lynch
P.O. Box 9784
Portland, ME 04101

As Democrats we know what we can achieve when we work together. Please join me in making a contribution towards Mikayla and Jan-Christian’s education today.

Thank you,

Ben Dudley, Chairman
Maine Democratic Party

PS, Arrangements for a memorial service have not been finalized at this time.

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Ben's earlier e-mail, regarding Captain Patrick Damon

Dear Maine Democrat:

It is with a very heavy heart that I write to you today to share with you the news that our good friend Patrick Damon has passed on.

Capt. Patrick Damon of the Maine National Guard’s 240th Engineering Battalion passed away on June 15, 2006 at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan of an apparent fatal heart attack. He was 41 years old.

While much has been said about Patrick’s most recent job as a foot soldier in the War on Terror, he was also a foot soldier in Democratic politics. As a school boy Patrick visited the State House and watched Speaker John Martin and House Clerk Ed Pert run the business in the Maine House of Representatives and he often said that at that moment he instantly knew what he wanted to do with his life.

Patrick joined the Army out of high school in order to pay tuition at American University and be near Washington, D.C. and he worked on campaigns, including Michael Dukakis’ presidential run. Then, for ten years, from 1994 through 2004, Patrick worked in the House Democratic Office and the Speaker’s Office at the State House in Augusta. Patrick was the Chief of Staff in the House Democratic Office from 2000 through 2002, then in the Speaker’s Office from 2002 through 2004 before working in Governor Baldacci’s administration and then most recently for the Maine Public Utilities Commission in a non-partisan position.

Patrick helped to guide countless Democratic bills through the legislature and helped to carry Democrats at every level to victory at the polls. But above all, Patrick was committed to making Maine a better place for everyone.

You may not have known Patrick personally, but there is a good chance you may have crossed his path. Patrick crisscrossed the state working for Democrats in the Legislature. He may have asked you to sign nomination papers, knocked on your door to ask you to support a Democrat on Election Day or made phone calls to you on a candidate’s behalf. You may have sat beside him at campaign headquarters stuffing envelopes or painting signs. You may have watched in wonder as Patrick manipulated spreadsheets to produce voter lists and neighborhood canvassing routes. He was an early expert in how to use computers to make campaigns more effective.

Patrick took joy in collecting absentee ballots for people who were unable to make it to the polls themselves. Patrick would make the rounds at senior housing facilities and nursing homes every election cycle knowing that you only need one more vote than the other person to win. But Patrick always played by the rules and if he knew he collected a ballot that had “wrong” votes on it, he’d work twice as hard to pick up two more ballots that were cast the “right” way.

You didn’t see Patrick’s name in the newspaper, but he helped Democrats make headlines. Patrick staffed Democratic Legislators on the Utilities and Energy Committee the year that Maine deregulated the electric industry, lowering energy costs for many Maine consumers. Patrick staffed Speaker of the House Libby Mitchell at time when many changes and reforms were made to improve Maine's mental health safety net. He worked for Speaker Steve Rowe the year that Maine wisely created the Fund for a Healthy Maine, which has helped to improve the health of countless Maine people. He was Speaker Patrick Colwell’s Chief of Staff the year Democrats passed Dirigo Health, Maine’s groundbreaking healthcare reform initiative. The list goes on and on, Patrick was at the heart of creating the policies that reflect our Democratic values.

If you have ever spent a day at the Maine Legislature, you know how hard everyone there works. But Patrick’s work didn’t end when the Legislature adjourned. Patrick also served in the Maine Army National Guard the entire time he worked there. Patrick would often work many late nights in a row at the Legislature and then spend his weekend drilling with his fellow guard members. It would not be uncommon for Pat to work a hundred hours a week for weeks on end. Those who knew him always marveled at his seemingly endless energy. It was a testament to his commitment to public service.

As Democrats, as Mainers and as Americans we owe Patrick Damon and his family a great debt of gratitude. Patrick leaves behind his wife Hildi Halley, his daughter MiKayla, age 14, his son Jan-Christian, age 12, as well as his Mother, Barbara Damon Day, his father Ellsworth, and his twin sister Alicia Tenney.

Please keep Patrick’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time and please remember the sacrifices that families just like Pat’s are making every day in America.


Sincerely,

Ben Dudley, Chairman
Maine Democratic Party

As you can see from the two messages from Chairman Ben Dudley, Capt. Damon was an American hero who served his country well. He has also been a key contributor to the Democratic Party in Maine and in DC. There are numerous worthy causes out there, but I hope people will consider this College Fund as well.

Many thanks.

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