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Marianne Kelsey Orestis
Born in Brooklyn, New York, during World War II, my father was a Colonel in the Air Force, serving as a soldier and jet pilot in the Korean War. This truth set my life story in motion. Through this...view moreBorn in Brooklyn, New York, during World War II, my father was a Colonel in the Air Force, serving as a soldier and jet pilot in the Korean War. This truth set my life story in motion. Through this lens, I witnessed the Cold War and the Iron Curtain, a post-WWII Pentagon, mid-century Parisian culture, emerging landscapes in Florida, and civil rights in a segregated south. Military life was the backdrop for all of these experiences.
As a young woman and during a time of great social progress, I landed in Virginia, went to college, became a civilian, and got married, which precipitated a move to Maine. I am now an adopted Mainer and have lived much of my life here.
It was in Maine that I came to the truth of my heart, a Scripture that reads, “I love you with an everlasting love; …” Jeremiah 31:2-3. These words drew me into public service, advocating for our most vulnerable: the mentally ill and the abused. I created Common Ties, a mental health agency that promotes dignity, equality, and respect for all. For this, I was awarded the Maine’s highest public service award, The Commissioner’s Award, which was presented to me by Governor Joseph E. Brennan in 1981.
I have followed the Scripture and my heart since 1967. I became a pilot and the First Lady of Lewiston, Maine, designing a park that became central to life in Lewiston. With the call to keep my Virginia family roots intact while living in Maine, I joined the Daughter’s of the American Revolution (DAR). My work in public service is my best effort, and my involvement in the DAR, most dear to my heart. At their core, they remember our Heroes and their Service.view less
Books by Marianne Kelsey Orestis
Here, There, Everywhere: a Young Military Life My Brother Stevie: a Marine's Untold Story: Vietnam 1967 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings