Memorial Day events scheduled throughout Maine

loading...

Augusta

A small Memorial Day celebration will be conducted at noon Monday, May 31, at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road.

The Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee will serve as host of the traditional Memorial Day ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Maine Veterans Memorial cemetery on Civic Center Drive.

For information on either event, call David Richmond at 287-3481.

Bangor

Gov. John E. Baldacci will dedicate the new Vietnam Memorial at Cole Land Transportation Museum. The program begins at 12:30 p.m. at the State World War II Memorial and Purple Heart Monument at the museum at 405 Perry Road. The dedication will begin at 1:15 p.m.

A Memorial Day parade and commemorative ceremony will be held the morning of Monday, May 31. Gov. Baldacci will be honorary parade marshal.

The parade will form at 9:30 a.m. on Exchange Street and Kenduskeag Plaza behind Fleet Bank and will start at 10:30 a.m. The parade route is about one-half mile from Exchange Street onto Harlow Street, left onto Central Street, and up Main Street to Davenport Park, where the reviewing stand will be located. The parade will disband on Cedar Street.

After the parade, a commemorative ceremony will be held in Davenport Park. The 195th Army Band will play the national anthem, followed by an invocation from the Rev. Richard Harvey.

The Rev. Robert Carlson will serve as master of presentations, which will include appropriate music, greetings and presentations. The event will culminate with the laying of memorial wreaths by veterans for each of the United States’ military conflicts, beginning with the Civil War, at the Battleship Maine Monument.

The ceremony will conclude with a benediction by Harvey, followed by three rifle volleys in a salute to the dead by the Bangor High School JROTC. Hal Wheeler will then play taps on a U.S. Army bugle.

The ceremony will conclude at approximately noon.

Daniel Chaplin Camp No. 3, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, will visit Mount Hope Cemetery at 1 p.m. Monday, May 31. The group will honor the eight Civil War generals buried there, as well as former U.S. Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors plot, the Citizens’ Memorial and the Second Maine Infantry Memorial.

The group will meet by the superintendent’s office near the riverside entrance. The event is open to the public. For information, call Eric Boothroyd at 277-3947 or Ryan King at 942-3597.

Belfast

A parade will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, starting at Renys Plaza off Route 3, continuing down Main Street with a stop at a cemetery, and ending at the waterfront.

Frank D. Hazeltine American Legion Post 43 invites World War II veterans to a luncheon to celebrate the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., after the parade.

The luncheon will be held at the American Legion post on Church Street. Those who want to take part in the parade should be at the Renys parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 31.

Brewer

The Isaac E. Clewley Post 4917 VFW will hold ceremonies on Monday, May 31, at the following cemeteries and times:

. 10 a.m., Oak Hill.

. 11 a.m., Woodlawn.

. Noon, North Brewer.

The ceremonies will include laying of the wreath, taps, rifle salute, prayer, and music by Brewer school students.

For information, call 843-7583.

Camden

A parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 31, near the junction of U.S. Route 1 and John Street, and continue through the village to Mountain View Cemetery on Mountain Street.

Caribou

A parade will form at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Caribou Court House on Sweden Street. The parade will start at 10 a.m. For information, call the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 498-6156.

Carmel

A parade will form at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Carmel Elementary School and will march to Village Cemetery, where services will be held by American Legion Post 107. The Hermon High School band will play.

A special service will be held by the Town Honor Roll in the village square. The speaker will be pastor Burt Williams. Rain location is Carmel Elementary School. All veterans, organizations and townspeople are welcome to participate.

Charlotte

The Charlotte Historical Society will hold a Memorial Day observance at 8:15 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Round Pond Cemetery. The theme for the event is “The Service Men and Women of Today and the Veterans of Tomorrow.” Brunch will be served in the town hall after the observance. The public is invited to attend.

Dexter

The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, in the municipal parking lot behind Bangor Savings Bank. Services will be led by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to honor deceased veterans at Memorial Park. There will be musical selections by the Dexter Regional High School band. The parade will reassemble on Dam and Grove streets and march back to the starting point at the parking lot.

Etna

A parade will form at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Etna Center on the corner of Routes 143 and 69 and Center Lane. Units will march to Pleasant Hill Cemetery, where services will be conducted by American Legion Post 107 with music by the SAD 38 band. In case of rain, services will be moved to the Etna Elementary School gym. The speaker will be pastor Burt Williams.

Fort Kent

Ceremonies will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall. Participants will leave the hall at 7:30 a.m. for a short military-honors ceremony at the Daigle and Wallagrass cemeteries. A 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated at Soldier Pond. Morning exercises will conclude with military honors at the cemetery and bridge.

Parade participants will reassemble at noon at Martin Ford for a parade and military honors ceremonies at six sites. The parade will commence at 1 p.m. and end at the Fort Kent Community High School.

The 836th Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets Band of Clair, New Brunswick, will participate in the parade, as well as the Fort Kent Community High School band and more than 30 organizations, floats and other entries.

Veterans of all wars are invited to join the parade. Cars will be provided for veterans who are unable to march.

For information, call Irvin Roy at 834-5862.

Franklin

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Veterans’ Memorial, located at the junction of Routes 182 and 200.

A wreath-laying and other events will be held to remember those who died in war or other military conflicts. The ceremony is open to the public. After the ceremony, the Franklin Veterans’ Club will hold a hospitality function at the club.

Hampden

The Whitcomb-Baker VFW Post 4633 and Auxiliary will hold Memorial Day observances Monday, May 31.

A parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Post Home on Canoe Club Road and proceed to Locust Grove Cemetery, where ceremonies will be held.

Participants in the parade will include the Hampden Academy band under the direction of Patrick Michaud, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Little League teams, and VFW Post and Auxiliary members.

Church of the Open Door pastor Mark Fowler will give a Memorial Day address, along with two students from Reeds Brook Middle School. Ryan Lindemann will recite “General Logan’s Orders” and Matthew Alexander will recite “The Gettysburg Address.”

Comrade Charles Gould is in charge of arrangements.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars will honor deceased veterans in a ritual memorial service with members of the post and auxiliary offering a floral tribute and laying a wreath.

Before the parade, post and auxiliary members will hold a service at 8:30 a.m. at the monument. A ceremony will be held at the British Cemetery across the street after the ceremony at Locust Grove.

Hartland

The Steeves-McCormack American Legion Post 141 will hold a parade and ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Tannery Annex.

The parade will stop at the cemetery and Pittsfield Avenue Square for taps and an honor guard presentation. A wreath will be placed, and the flag will be raised at Warren Square.

Indian Island

The Native American Veterans Association will hold a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, on Indian Island.

For information, call Commander-Advocate David Slagger at 944-0849.

Lincolnville

A parade will begin at 1 p.m. Monday, May 31, at the fire station in Lincolnville Center and continue to the town office on Hope Road.

Litchfield

There will be a parade at 9 a.m. Monday, May 31, from the Litchfield Fire Station to the Litchfield Plains Cemetery. After the march at 10 a.m., members of the American Legion Post 181 will present a Gold Star Banner to Bernard C. Mayo of Litchfield. Mayo’s daughter, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T. Swartworth, was killed last year in Iraq. A military flyover consisting of three Black Hawk helicopters is expected during the ceremony. The American Legion Post also will present Blue Star certificates and WWII certificates.

For information, call Ernie Rowe at 462-4570.

Monroe

A parade will begin at noon Monday, May 31, at the cemetery, continue into the village and end at Monroe Elementary School.

Orono

For the first time in more than 12 years, the town of Orono will have a Memorial Day parade.

The parade will form at 8 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Orono High School front and rear parking lots for a 9 a.m. start time. The parade will proceed down Westwood Drive, left onto Main Street toward a reviewing stand located in the parking lot near Burby and Bates, and to the center of the bridge for a brief wreath ceremony conducted by American Legion Post 84. From there, the parade will continue toward the American Legion Hall, where it will end at approximately 11 a.m.

The route of the parade will block off Route 2 at the intersections of Westwood Drive, Bennoch Road, College Avenue and just after the American Legion Hall on the Old Town side of Park Street from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Commuters are encouraged to allow extra time for delays during this period.

During the parade, the Crossroad Ministries of Old Town will collect nonperishable food items for the food bank in Old Town. The group will be located at the end of the parade. Each attendee is encouraged to bring one or two nonperishable food items. The ministry will have people on either side of their vehicles to collect these items from the crowd as they travel with the parade.

Rockland

A parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at Shore Village Museum on Limerock Street and continue down Union, Park and Main streets.

Rockport

A parade will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the post office on Union Street and continue through the village to Amesbury Hill Cemetery.

Searsmont

A parade will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 31, in the village and continue to the cemetery.

Sedgwick

The Flash in the Pan community steel band will perform a benefit concert at the Sedgwick Library on Main Street at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 31. The rain location is the Sedgwick Elementary School. Refreshments will be served.

South Portland

The South Portland War Veterans Association in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Sea Cadets will hold a wreath-laying ceremony Monday, May 31, to honor fallen soldiers.

The ceremony will follow a parade, which starts at 10:30 a.m. through South Portland ending at Legion Square with brief comments to be delivered by several local dignitaries, including Capt. Patrick B. Trapp, commander of the Coast Guard Group of Portland.

Sullivan

The town of Sullivan will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Sumner Park Gazebo. The Sumner Memorial High School band will perform.

For information, call Bruce Munger at 422-9089.

Thomaston

A Memorial Day parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the fire station. It will proceed down Main Street.

Unity

A Memorial Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Unity Elementary School and continue through downtown.

Winterport

A parade will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Leroy H. Smith Elementary School and proceed to the Winterport Memorial Library for a short service. It will proceed then to the Civil War monument in Oak Hill Cemetery for a memorial program by American Legion Argonne Post 138.

Units that want to join the parade should be at the school by 10:45 a.m.

The Hampden Academy band will provide music. The speaker will be Senior Master Sgt. Alan Smith of the 101st Security Forces Squadron, Maine Air National Guard. The Rev. Arthur Gowie of the Congregational church in Monroe, retired from the U.S. Navy, will give the invocation and benediction.