LEWISTON – Some of them died in faraway combat zones. Others fulfilled all kinds of vital military duties in both peacetime and war before returning to their families in Maine.

Their names by the hundreds are inscribed on large stone monuments at Veterans Memorial Park and the listings increased by more than 200 as an eighth memorial stone was dedicated in a Veterans Day ceremony Thursday afternoon.

Bertrand A. Dutil, chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Veterans Council, conducted that event as well as a morning musical program to honor veterans at the Lewiston Armory.

Color guard units representing Franco-American War Veterans Post 31 of Lewiston and American Legion Post 135 of Sabattus participated in the dedication ceremony on the site overlooking the Androscoggin River at the Lewiston end of Longley Bridge.

Dutil pointed out that emblems atop each five-foot-tall stone represent the several flags that fly over Veterans Park. The newest stone bears the POW-MIA emblem.

Armand J. Bussiere, vice chairman of the L-A Veterans Council, participated in unveiling the new stone. The dedication ceremony invocation was given by Jerry DerBoghosian, chaplain of the Franco-American War Veterans Post and of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9150.

A ninth stone will be dedicated on Memorial Day next May, Dutil said. In all, there’s room for 24 of the large stones in coming years. Anyone wishing to add a past or currently serving Maine veteran’s name may submit an application to the council at any time, he said.

Location of each name on the stones is kept in notebooks by the L-A Veterans Council. Posting the information on a Web site is under consideration.

Future park additions could include a large military object such as a cannon or tank, if fund raising is successful, and placement of benches throughout Veterans Park also is planned. Dutil said anyone, veteran or not, could sponsor a concrete bench for $200.

At the 10 a.m. program at Lewiston Armory, Dutil introduced a variety of patriotic and inspirational presentations for an audience of about 200 veterans and family members. It was the eighth annual Veterans Day musical program sponsored by the L-A Veterans Council.

Sgt. 1st Class Normand Roy of Lewiston received a standing ovation as he carried the American flag for the U.S. Army contingent. He and two others from his company have been home from Iraq for a few days and they return to duty there before Thanksgiving.

“What I love to see is all these yellow ribbons everywhere,” he said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Military personnel in Iraq really appreciate all the gift packages and letters they receive from home, Sgt. Roy said.

Roy, who is a platoon sergeant for a heavy equipment section of the 133rd Engineer Battalion, Lewiston, said he has been a member of the Maine State Honor Guard for 10 years and has participated in many military ceremonies. This event was particularly significant to him, he said, because it’s the first he has done as an Iraq war vet.

Representatives of the several military services passed in review as members of each branch Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard stood in the audience. Among the units were contingents from American Legion Post 22 of Lewiston; American Legion Post 153, Auburn; American Legion Post 158, Lisbon; Franco-American War Veterans Post 31, Lewiston; the Central Maine Detachment of the Marine Corps League; VFW Post 1603, Auburn; VFW Post 9150, Lewiston; the Women’s Marine Association; and the Junior Air Force ROTC of Lewiston High School. Also passing in review were members of three assemblies of the Knights of Columbus and the Lewiston Fire Department Honor Guard.

Several residents of the Maine Veterans Home at South Paris were in attendance.

The Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School bands and color guards performed and the local singing group Just Us presented a program of patriotic and popular music.

Remarks by Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay and Auburn Mayor Normand Guay also were part of the program.