Dominick Klinger and Gil Turner of Post 72 demonstrate flag folding during a past Veterans Day ceremony. Supplied photoPARIS — American Legion Foster Carroll Post 72, VFW Post 9787 and Boy Scout Troop 130, all of South Paris, are presenting an annual recognition ceremony at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Nov. 11 for the first time since 2019.
The ceremony had to be cancelled the last two years due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The ceremony will take place in the high school auditorium starting at 10 a.m. next Friday and will feature a celebratory slideshow and a performance by the OHCHS band, which will perform the national anthem and a medley of service songs.
There will also be a presentation of colors and a flag-folding demonstration.
“This year’s program features a special salute to area veterans,” Sarah Glynn, commander of American Legion Foster Carroll Post 72, wrote in an email statement to the Advertiser Democrat. “Our Oxford Hills community is extremely fortunate to have a remarkable number of former and current military members serving in all areas of public service, including law enforcement, fire and/or emergency rescue personnel capacity.”
A big-screen slide show will run continuously throughout the program of area veterans during their time in the service. Glynn asks that high resolution images be emailed to her at sarah@oxfordhillslaw.com, or they mailed to or dropped off at the Oxford Hills Law office at 197 Park St. in South Paris. Photos should include identifying information, including the veteran’s name, rank/rate, branch of service and period of time in the service.
“We will use images from past years in the slide show and would be delighted to add new faces into the mix,” Glynn said.
Traditionally, between 150 and 200 people have attended the Veterans Day ceremony. Glynn is hopeful that, with the ceremony returning after a two-year hiatus, that even more community members turn out to honor its veterans.
Gil Turner of Post 72 leads the parade of flags during a previous Veterans Day ceremony. Supplied photo
The event is free and open to the public.
Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.
“We hope all will join us to celebrate and honor those those who have so selflessly served our country,” Glynn said.
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