SABATTUS – The American Legion Bells and Drums Corps will be among those performing in the annual Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. Monday, May 26, rain or shine.
Tony Camardese, American Legion Post 135 commander, is in charge of coordinating the parade and services. Other committee members are Bob Tanguay, drum corps and scheduling; Wally Wright, color guards; Ron and Joan Caron, flowers and decorations; Mary Jane Caron, foods and refreshments; Gino Camardese, podium and entertainment; and Mark Summers, coordinator for the Sons of the Legion Squadron.
Groups will form at the Legion Post, Island Road, at 8:30 a.m. Paraders will depart at 9 a.m. to Main Street, left to Elm Street, Elm Street to Pleasant Street, left to Green Street, stopping at the downtown monuments.
At 9:30 memorial services will be conducted featuring invited guest speakers, Nancy Smith, Maine State House of Representatives for Sabattus, Wales and Monmouth, and Sabattus Selectman Rudy Gayton. Ron Caron, newly elected commander for next year, will speak with closing remarks from Tony Camardese.
Opening and closing prayers will be conducted by the Rev. Ray Nolan, pastor of the Turner Center Universalist Church and a member of the Oak Hill High School staff.
The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by local Scouting groups. The public will join in the singing of the National Anthem, led by singers from the Oak Hill High School student body. “Taps” will be played by Oak Hill trumpet player, Karen Stufflebeam.
Flowers honoring all departed veterans will be placed at the monuments by local youth groups. A floral arrangement will be thrown into the Sabattus River honoring all veterans lost at sea. “God Bless America” will be sung by all after the rifle squad salute.
After closing ceremonies the parade will reform and march down Main Street to the Legion Post home where all parade and ceremony participants are invited for snacks and beverages.
Participating groups include the Sabattus Police Department, the DARE program, fire department with equipment, Legionnaires, auxiliaries, Sons of the Legion, Junior Marines program, Sabattus Recreation Club, Boy and Girl Scouting groups and day care groups.
School classes and sports teams are welcome as well as individual boys and girls with decorated baby carriages, bikes, wagons and floats. All veterans and residents are also invited to participate. The Main Street Baptist Church youth will ride their new float this year.
In case of rain, the programs and ceremony will be held at the Sabattus Elementary School gym. Doors will open at 9 a.m.
Tanguay, Bell and Drum Corps director, said the group was organized in 1983. Most of the current players were in the original Maine Army National Guard Unit of Lewiston. Tanguay, who has been involved with the Drum Corps for more than 50 years, and Leo Aube organized the only Army National Guards Corps in New England.
Although many of the current players are now retired, half the members are still serving in the guard. The corps parades annually in the Sabattus Memorial Day and Lisbon Falls Moxie Day parades.
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