Back in 1973 Glenn "Sam" Stevens wrote the East Boothbay column in the Boothbay Register, as she had and would for many years. In the May 31, 1973 issue she wrote about a village Memorial Day tradition — teacher Hope Updegraff's leading the neighborhood children in the parade and then to Green Landing Cemetery to decorate graves. I and my village classmates took part every year we were in grade school in the 1950s. Sam's words follow.

"This week I'd like to devote to the Memorial Day services and to someone very special who has played an integral part in those services for the past 39 years. In May of 1944, Hope Updegraff, with the able assistance of Gwen Farmer, reinstituted the tradition of holding a children's service at the East Boothbay cemetery on Memorial Day. Following the services at the bridge and war memorial, Hope had annually led the grammar school children in a solemn procession, accompanied by drummers, to the cemetery for a brief prayer service. There the children decorated the graves with flowers they had carried in the parade. After these duties were attended to, it was Hope's custom to treat the children to ice cream.

"By my reckoning Hope has led some 1,500 children through Memorial Day services over the past 39 years. I like to think that she contributed to a finer appreciation of a fine tradition in the hearts and memories of over 1,500 children. That is but one reason so many of those citizens are so sorry to see Hope retire this year. That is why it seems appropriate that this year we offer a few words of tribute to this person who has spent so many years inspiring children to offer tribute to those who have gone before." — Barbara Rumsey/Sam Stevens