Veterans Day activities scheduled statewide

AUGUSTA – The public is invited to a Veterans Day Observance at the Togus VA Medical Center on Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11. The observance commences at 8 a.m. at the Flag Pole Commons area in front of Building 200 (main hospital) and includes a presentation of the colors, invocation-benedictions, Pledge of Allegiance, remarks, placing of the wreath and an honor guard salute with Taps.

BANGOR – A Veterans Day parade is planned for 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at 9:30 a.m. in the Brewer Shopping Plaza, Wilson Street. Veterans, veterans groups, groups of descendants of veterans and those interested in participating are invited to join in the event.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci, American Legion members, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Purple Heart veterans and others will lead off the parade at 10:15 a.m.

The parade will proceed down Wilson Street, across the Chamberlain Bridge and down Bangor’s Main Street to the reviewing stand at the Broad Street square. A brief ceremony will take place at the reviewing stand. The parade will proceed to Exchange Street, where it will disband at approximately 11:30 a.m. The parade route is 11/2 miles long.

BANGOR – At 1 p.m., student essayists will receive awards for writing they did after interviewing a veteran in the Ambassadors of Patriotism Program at Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road.

The Bangor Band will give a patriotic concert at 2 p.m. at the museum. At 3:30 p.m., there will be a public viewing of the 90-minute broadcast of the 1986 Veterans Remembrance Bridge Dedication and Parade.

Veterans, active military and their immediate family will be admitted free to the museum on Veterans Day.

BANGOR – Camden National Bank will sponsor a special salute to veterans and soldiers of every generation and branch of service during the Veterans Day weekend. The bank will sponsor free screenings of “Wounded in Action, A Legacy of Heroes,” a 90-minute documentary that honors the brave work and impact of World War II orthopedic surgeons. In Bangor, the film will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at the Bangor Opera House, Main Street.

BUCKSPORT – Camden National Bank will sponsor a special salute to veterans and soldiers of every generation and branch of service during the Veterans Day weekend. The bank will sponsor free screenings of “Wounded in Action, A Legacy of Heroes,” a 90-minute documentary that honors the brave work and impact of World War II orthopedic surgeons. In Bucksport, the film will be shown at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Alamo Theatre.

CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy will hold a Veterans Day observance ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in front of Leavitt Hall on the college campus. Organized by the college’s Student Government Association and the Regiment of Midshipmen, the student-centered event will feature student speakers and musical selections by the student a cappella group, the Maritones. Performances by the MMA band, pipe and drum corps, and drill team will be included in the ceremony, which will conclude with a 21-gun salute and moment of silence.

As part of the ceremony, the Downeast Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans Association will place a wreath at the base of the Merchant Marine memorial on the college campus. The granite memorial honors Merchant Mariners and members of the Naval Armed Guard from Maine who died in service to their country during World War II.

The Academy’s Veterans Day observance is open to the public.

LEWISTON – Camden National Bank will sponsor a special salute to veterans and soldiers of every generation and branch of service during the Veterans Day weekend. The bank will sponsor free screenings of “Wounded in Action, A Legacy of Heroes,” a 90-minute documentary that honors the brave work and impact of World War II orthopedic surgeons. In Lewiston, the film will be shown at noon Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Colisee.

ROCKLAND – Camden National Bank will sponsor a special salute to veterans and soldiers of every generation and branch of service during the Veterans Day weekend. The bank will sponsor free screenings of “Wounded in Action, A Legacy of Heroes,” a 90-minute documentary that honors the brave work and impact of World War II orthopedic surgeons. In Rockland, the film will be shown at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Strand Theatre. Directed by David Berez, “Wounded in Action” was produced for The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons by Post Office Editorial, a film and documentary production company located in Camden.

WINTERPORT – American Legion Argonne Post 138 will hold ceremonies to honor the sacrifices of veterans at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at Winterport Memorial Library, Route 1A, downtown. The guest speaker will be Donna Gilbert. Music will be provided by Cortney Doyon and Marc Albert of Wagner Middle School. Afterward, the public is invited to attend a standup luncheon at the Victoria Grant Community Building. For information, call Phil Higgins, 223-2519, or e-mail phiggins@higginsbusinessservices.com.