Memorial Day activities

AREA — Local Memorial Day parades include the following: Paris, starts at 10 a.m. at the courthouse; Mechanic Falls starts at 9 a.m. at the Legion Hall, 41 Elm St.; Norway begins at 9 a.m. at the Advertiser Democrat; Buckfield begins at 9 a.m. and West Paris starts at 11 a.m.

South Paris

On Sunday, May 29, the American Legion Foster Carroll Post 72 and Auxiliary in South Paris will attend the Memorial Day church service at Christ Episcopal Church on 35 Paris Street in Norway.

On Monday, May 30, the Memorial Day parade in South Paris will set up at 10 a.m. on Western Avenue in front of the courthouse. The parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. and the Oxford Hills Middle School will participate. Other marching units are invited to attend. The Grand Marshal is James Taylor, and the ceremony will be at Riverside Cemetery with Gil Turner as Master of Ceremonies and Representative Terry Hayes, speaker. A wreath will be placed at the monument by Dennis Gray. The invocation and benediction will be given by Reverend Ann Stanley from Christ Episcopal Church. The General Orders will be read by Gil Turner, and the Gettysburg Address by Art Hill. Boys State representative Brian Lynch will read “In Flanders’ Field,” and Girls State representative Ashley West will read America’s answer to “In Flanders' Field.” Auxiliary President Lillian Herrick will do the Memorial to Sailors of all wars.

Following the service, the parade reforms and marches back to the Legion Hall. Refreshments will be served at the Legion Hall by the Auxiliary. For more information about American Legion Foster Carroll Post 72, call Post Commander Art Hill at 743-8418. Post meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6 p.m. each month.

Norway

The Memorial Day parade will be held on Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m., beginning by the Advertiser Democrat and will proceed down Main Street with a brief wreath placing ceremony at the Civil War Monument and will finish at the Norway Veterans Memorial Park across from the American Legion. The ceremony will include an opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, ceremonies by Stone-Smart Post 82 Legion and Auxiliary members and the VFW Post 9787, a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the poem “Flanders Field.” The program will be completed with the placement of wreaths on each of the monuments and a salute by the firing squad. There will not be a band available this year.

An invitation is extended to all Scout organizations, Girl Scouts and other youth organizations in the area. The parade lineup will assemble at the Advertiser Democrat Square at 8:45 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, there will be no parade, but the Memorial Day ceremony will be held inside the Stone-Smart American Legion. Following the parade and service there will be refreshments inside the Legion Hall.

Harrison

The Town of Harrison Memorial Day activities will take place on Monday, May 30. Please join together in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

9 a.m. — Parade will form at the United Parish Congregational Church (please line up at 8:30 a.m.), Oxford Hills Middle School band will play, also unveiling of the new “Walk of Honor” at the Memorial Common in front of the library.

Church service will be held at the United Parish Congregational Church following the parade. The guest speaker will be John E. diPretero LCDR USN (Ret.).

West Paris

The Memorial Day parade will be held Monday, May 30, with the following schedule; lineup at 10:30 a.m. on Maple Street and step off at 11 a.m. marching to the center of the village, stopping for the Flag Salute and singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.” 

Parade continues to the bridge for a ceremony with a prayer by Pastor Scott Randolph of the West Paris Baptist Church, gunner with a short salute and the ladies tossing flowers into the river.  The it is an about face and marching back to Maple Street to pick up Grand Marshals Lloyd Waterhouse and Erlon Hadley and the rest of the parade members to march to the cemetery. 

At the cemetery there will be an introduction by Past Commander Harold Wilbur, prayer by Pastor Lloyd Waterhouse of Grace Fellowship Church, Memorial Day address by Lloyd Waterhouse, introduction of the Grand Marshals by the Commander and presentation of flowers, “Lest We Forget” by the Commander, music by the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Band, Auxiliary members decorate the graves, a gun salute followed by “Taps” and “Echo.” 

Parade then marches back to the monument in the village with a prayer by Pastor Wallace Farnum of Mission Congregational Church in West Paris, Auxiliary members decorate the monument with geraniums, “The Peace Prayer” by the Commander and closing with “God Bless America” by all.

Ring-McKeen Post 151 American Legion and Auxiliary held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m.  This was preceded by a 6:30 p.m. potluck supper as it was Installation Night.  Dale Wilson and Evana Grover of Bethel, and their able installation team did the honors.

Buckfield

Starting at 9 a.m., the parade will depart from the municipal center on Turner Street

Mechanic Falls

Beginning at 9 a.m., a parade will depart from the Legion Hall at 41 Elm Street