LIVERMORE FALLS – It’s all settled.
Concerts will go on, performers will entertain and the military flags will hang again at the Livermore Falls gazebo.
In quick succession Monday morning, a few dejected veterans took down military flags representing all the U.S. military forces and the names of service men and women in the military.
Gazebo Committee members were concerned the flags, which included Old Glory and Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flags, would detract from concerts at the gazebo.
The flags had been hung from the gazebo ceiling with a promise in April that they would be hung and illuminated at night until all the U.S. troops come home.
Gazebo Committee members, who organize the concerts and use of the gazebo, which which includes wedding ceremonies, initially asked that the flags be taken down so the events would not be disrupted. Donald Simoneau said veterans received permission to put the flags up during the April ceremony from the Town Office. But the Gazebo Committee was never asked.
The gazebo was built in 1990, said committee member Maxine Bailey, using funds donated in memory of loved ones or for other reasons, volunteer labor and donated supplies. The committee receives some money from the town each year for maintenance of the gazebo.
“We aren’t against the veterans,” Bailey said Monday. “We were just concerned about the flags flapping during concerts. We thought they could hang them someplace else.”
She had suggested the Jay monument or Union Street Park in Livermore Falls or even around the gazebo out of the way of performances.
By afternoon, at least one selectman, Bailey and veterans had straightened out the issues. The flags were going back up at the gazebo but in a different area, following correct flag protocol, and out of the way of concerts.
It’s just in time for Barry Wood of Jay to perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the gazebo. Rain date is Wednesday, June 4.
Livermore Falls Selectman Ken Jacques said the “flags are back up.”
dperry@sunjournal.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.