Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Monday was a day to remember veterans of all eras, from a ceremony at Fairmount Cemetery in Presque Isle, a parade through the city, tossing of the wreath off the Park Street bridge, to a gathering at the Veterans’ Memorial Park on Main Street.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
SILENCE FELL on the Veterans’ Memorial Park in Presque Isle on Monday, as Gary Fields, a bugler with VFW Post 2599, played “Taps,” with military personnel, Scouts and law enforcement officers saluting in tribute to those who’ve served the United States. Pictured with Fields are, from left: Officer Lynn Hartley, of the Presque Isle Police Department; Hartley’s nephew, Devin Wright; and Deputy Michael Montpetit, of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office. Wright may be too young to know what such ceremonies represent, but he had flag waving mastered for the Memorial Day festivities.
Though the morning began with cloudy skies, the rain held off for all the activities planned in the Star City. Festivities honoring local war heroes began with several people gathering at the Civil War memorial at the Houlton Road cemetery prior to the parade.
By 10 a.m., the Memorial Day Parade got under way from the University of Maine at Presque Isle on South Main Street, with local veterans leading the way, flags held high. The parade came to a halt at the intersection of Main and Park streets where veterans, joined by ladies of the auxiliary, ventured onto the Park Street bridge for the traditional tossing of the memorial wreath into the Presque Isle Stream. Following a brief prayer for those who gave their lives for their nation, a wreath with white flowers was tossed into the stream recognizing those lost at sea.
Those involved in the ceremony at the bridge returned to their positions in the parade and the procession continued its way north on Main Street. The Presque Isle High School Marching Band provided the beat for parade participants, including local Scouts – both boys and girls, Young Marines, beauty queens, Anah Temple Shrine Indy cars, tractors and fire trucks.
As the parade wound to a close, with many of the entrants completing their journey, stopping at the North Street Plaza parking lot, some participants continued up North Main Street, arriving at the Veterans’ Memorial Park where one last ceremony and a hotdog roast was held.
This year’s grand marshal, Stephen Naas, joined other veterans as they placed wreaths and floral arrangements at the monument for fallen soldiers at the Memorial Park. Naas acknowledged those individuals who’ve given selflessly over the years to defend the United States and ensure the freedom of its citizens. He reminded those present that “while we remember those who are no longer with us this holiday, we should also remember those men and women who are serving in the military that are still with us.”
“I’m honored to have been selected to serve as the grand marshal and to honor our war heroes. I ask God to bless those who are living and those who’ve passed,” said Naas.
The event concluded with the playing of “Taps” as veterans, auxiliary ladies, Scouts, Young Marines and local law enforcement officers saluted in honor of those who didn’t make it home.
With festivities coming to a close and traffic returning to normal on Main Street, a line formed at the hotdog roast hosted by members of the K of C as participants shared stories of loved ones, past and present, and spoke of plans for the day ahead.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
BRIG. GEN. BRENT BOYLES of the Maine National Guard not only served as the grand marshal of the Mapleton Lions Memorial Day Parade, but also spoke at the remembrance ceremony, which followed at the memorial site in front of the elementary school. A number of veterans and community members attended the special ceremony. (Look for additional Memorial Day photos in a future issue of The Star-Herald).
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
STEPHEN NAAS, grand marshal for this year’s Memorial Day Parade in Presque Isle, took a moment to speak at the Veterans’ Memorial Park monument, recognizing those who gave their lives for their country and asking those present to also remember those who are still alive – many of whom are currently serving overseas. Pictured with Naas, from left, were members of VFW Post 2599: Clyde Brown, an unidentified member and Carl McLaughlin.
