Memorial Day observances planned in Falmouth, Freeport, Cumberland, Yarmouth
By The Forecaster
FALMOUTH — The towns of Freeport, Yarmouth, Falmouth and Cumberland will celebrate Memorial Day with traditional parades, music and ceremonies on Monday, May 25.
In Falmouth, the Third Maine Volunteer Infantry will lead the parade and will perform a 21-gun salute to all veterans of all wars.
Organized by the Falmouth American Legion Post 164, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the American Legion, 65 Depot Road. It will head east along Depot and turn right on Foreside Road ending at Pine Grove Park.
WGME 13 News Anchor Kim Block is this year's guest speaker; Frank Dusty, commander of the Falmouth Legion, will also speak. The invocation and benediction will be given by Donald Farr, also of the Falmouth American Legion.
Presentations of the wreaths for the World War I and World War II monuments will be made by Legion member Ralph Bonville. The Civil War veterans' wreath presentation will be by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Third Maine Volunteer Infantry.
The Falmouth Middle and High School bands and choruses with perform musical selections, high school students Tim Myers and Evan Pryzant will play Taps and Echo. Dian Moore, town of Falmouth, will welcome and dismiss attendees.
Refreshments will be served on the lawn at St. Mary's Episcopal Church following the program.
In Cumberland, the annual festivities will begin with the "Memorial Mile" race, which is sponsored by the School Administrative District 51 Parent Teacher Organization. A half-mile fun run for kids 11 and under will begin at 8 a.m., the adult mile race will begin at 8:45 a.m. Both races start near Greely High School's south wing.
Registration information is available at Town Hall, Food Stop, the Prince Memorial Library, and on the PTO Web site. Entry fees are $3 for the kids race and $5 for the mile race. Prizes for the top three runners in each age group will be homemade pies donated by local residents. To donate a pie (or two), contact Beth Smith at [email protected]
The annual parade along Main Street will follow the races, beginning at 10 a.m.
In Freeport, the Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the high school on Holbrook Street. The parade will travel onto Main Street, School Street and Park Street, ending at the park near the Hilton Garden Inn.
A representative of the Town Council will speak at a 10 a.m. ceremony, and the Freeport Community Choir and High School Choir will perform. The Freeport Middle School, Mast Landing School and the Pownal and Durham elementary school bands will also perform.
The Police Department firing squad will offer a salute and "Taps" will be played to honor all veterans. Rear Adm. Sean Crean will speak, and the Rev. Sandy Williams will offer a prayer and perform the laying of flowers.
Yarmouth's activities begin with a parade at 10 a.m. at the Yarmouth High School. It will travel down Main Street to West Elm Street and end at the Memorial Green in front of Town Hall. A traditional Memorial Day observance ceremony will follow.
Forecaster News
Doing 5 things could decrease your risk of Alzheimer's by 60%, study finds
Driver injured, traffic tied up as truck's load smashes into turnpike overpass
Iowa official fired after complaints about his Tupac fixation
Millennial entrepreneur enters race for Portland mayor
Florida 'doomsday preppers' who also own Maine land kept low profile. Then 2 women escaped.