Memorial Day activities sponsored by the veterans of the Boothbay region will commence on Sunday, May 24, with an all you can eat public breakfast. The event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, 25 Industrial Park Road in Boothbay at a cost of $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Monday, May 25

Monday’s events will begin near the old Newagen Post Office on Southport Island, with the parade forming shortly before the opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. The order of service at this and all locations will be as follows: Comments/prayers, wreath placement, firing squad, taps and hymn or National Anthem. Parade units will disband, travel, reform and march to each of the monuments.

The second service will be at the West Southport monument at approximately 9 a.m.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. all units will assemble on Howard Street in Boothbay Harbor, and at 9:45 a.m. the parade will march down Oak Street, turning to the monument at the Memorial Library for the third service.

Next, the march will proceed via Boothbay House Hill to the Waterfront Park for a ceremony for those lost at sea. The parade will then continue to Townsend Avenue where buses will transport participants to the south end of Boothbay Common.

At about 10:30 a.m., the assembled units will march around the BoothbayCommon to the Civil War monument for another service. The parade participants will then move out, pass in front of the town hall, and return to the buses to travel to East Boothbay. 

The parade will reform and proceed down the hill from Murray Hill Road to the East Boothbay War Memorial at 11 a.m. for the morning’s final service. It will then move further downhill and break ranks beyond the East Boothbay Post Office.

Area residents and visitors are again reminded that times are flexible, and parade viewers should arrive early at any given site so they won’t be disappointed if, by chance, the parade is ahead of schedule.

Parade line-up

The line of parade participants will start with the Marshal, David Patch, CDR USN (Ret.), followed by the United States Coast Guard color guard, the Firing Squad, the Boothbay Region Alumni-Community/School Band, the combined Boothbay Fire Department/American Legion color guard, marching veterans, trolley with riding veterans, and the Boothbay Region Boy and Girl Scouts. Honorary grand marshals of the parade will be Vietnam veterans.

Commentary

Those who will give short Memorial Day commentaries will be: At Newagen, Selectman Gerry Gamage; at Southport, The Rev. Amy Sawtelle; at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, The Rev. Sarah Foulger; at the Waterfront Park, Father Fred Morse; in Boothbay, Lay Paster Al Roberts; in East Boothbay, The Rev. Ami Sawtelle.

Addendum

There will be breakfast for the firing squad, the USCG Color Guard, and their guests at the American Legion Post 36 Hall on Industrial Park Road in Boothbay prior to the parade. Sea Bee Linc Sample will be in charge.

After the parade there will be a luncheon at Legion Post 36 for veterans and parade participants. Auxiliary members, Legionnaires and their spouses have been asked to donate items for the luncheon. In fact, donations from any "generous soul" will be appreciated.

Call-off time in case of inclement weather is 7:30 a.m. Monday morning. The bands will be notified first followed by the veterans and other marchers.

All individuals and businesses are encouraged to fly their flags for the Memorial Day weekend. Remember, the flags are to be at half-mast until noon on Monday.

Decoration of graves

In addition to participation in the formal services, the Legion, through its volunteers, has taken the responsibility for decorating all known veterans’ graves with flags. Unfortunately, some graves may be missed because of moved or missing markers. Those aware of any graves that need decorating should contact Legionnaires Lew Curtis at 207-633-6219 or Barry Sherman at 207-633-4387.