RANGELEY – Perhaps for the first time in its history, the number of spectators outnumbered the number of marchers in Rangeley’s 2003 Memorial Day parade. In spite of gray skies and pervasive dampness, the small crowd of people who gathered in front of Rangeley’s new Veterans Memorial appeared to be visibly moved while listening to state Sen. Chandler Woodcock, R-Farmington, speak of his experiences visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the first time.
The parade began at 1 p.m. at the Rangeley Inn Green. Participants marched down Main Street to the Veteran’s Memorial, where a prayer was recited and Woodcock delivered his speech.
The small group of onlookers included officer Aaron Turcotte of the Rangeley Police Department, a Maine State Police officer, the Rangeley Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, The Old Crow Band and the American Legion.
Following the speeches and renditions of “America the Beautiful” and “Taps,” the parade continued its march. It ended at DC Morton’s Garage on Main Street.
According to Rangeley Selectman Jim Stone, the Veterans Memorial Committee is still “about $5,000 to $6,000 shy of donations necessary to pay for the monument.”
While a star was carved next to one of the names on the monument recently, and the name of Robert Wilcox, a World War II veteran, has been added, Stone mentioned that there would be 15 new names added to the monument soon, in honor of the “kids that are now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Fifteen Flags were planted in the ground in front of the Veterans Monument to commemorate the 15 soldiers from the Rangeley region who currently are serving in armed forces, regardless of whether the soldiers are stationed in the United States or abroad.
“Whether they’re overseas or in the states, it doesn’t make any difference. That’s what those 15 flags represent; we’re going to give the flags to the families of the soldiers,” Stone said.
According to Stone, finding out the number of local residents who are enlisted in the military was difficult. “We had to go through Senators (Olympia) Snowe and (Susan) Collins to find out who from the area is serving currently.”
Selectman Mark Beauregard said that the Rangeley Veterans Monument is “something that everyone in the community can be proud of. We’re dedicating the Annual Town Report to the same 15 veterans currently serving in U.S. armed forces.”
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