LEWISTON — The L & A Veterans Council is seeking participatants for the the Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Lewiston and Auburn.

The parade will be held Saturday, May 26, Memorial Day weekend, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Kennedy Park, and ending after returning from Auburn to Longley Bridge to Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Main and Lincoln streets. The ceremony will begin around 10:30 a.m.

Units invited include veterans posts and their color guards plus marching members, Knights of Columbus, Kora Temple, Elks, Rotary, Eagles, DAR, Boy and Girl Scouts, Junior Air Force ROTC, Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines, police, sheriff and fire departments from any cities or towns, special floats, horse riders, miniature horses, all military branches, National Guard and Reserve units. All are invited to participate.

The parade and ceremony are honoring all those who have given their life for the country.

The ceremony will include the National Anthem, a religious reading, speeches by mayors of Lewiston and Auburn and politicians. Music will be furnished by Nel Meservier on his keyboard with some singers.

There will be a memorial service and placing of the wreath at the “Freedom is not Free” monument by Gold Star Mothers, then three cannon shots by VFW Post 1603 and Taps by Norm Bussiere. The Veterans Posts’ chaplains will read the names of their members who died during the past year, followed by the unveiling of the 30th stone with 216 names on it and the emblem of the “Gold Star Mothers.” Those attending should bring chairs.

Ending the program, members of L & A Veterans Council will go around the area with their binders with all the names of all the stones in alphabetical order to help the individuals find the names on the stones.

For more information, contact Council Chairman Jerry Dewitt, 207-576-0376; Name Stones Chairman Norm Cote, 207-782-1725; L & A Council Advisor Bert Dutil, 207-786-2305.

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