RUMFORD — Memorial Day will be observed Monday in Rumford and Mexico with a parade and ceremonies.
The members of the Norman Ouellette American Legion Post 24 in Rumford are organizing a parade and services to pay tribute to all Americans who have died defending the country.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Post at 189 Congress St., across from the Rite Aid pharmacy, Kirk Thurston, one of the coordinators, said. The parade will proceed from the parking lot, right onto Portland Street and cross Memorial Bridge to the Rotary Memorial Green. There, guest speaker Lloyd Woods, Department of Maine American Legion adjutant, will give an address. The Rumford Police Department Honor Guard will also participate.
Following the ceremony, the parade will proceed down Rumford Avenue, turn left onto Waldo Street, right onto Lincoln Avenue at Hannaford’s supermarket and proceed east through Mexico to the Mexico Memorial Green.
At that site will be a reading of all the memorial names of those who have fallen in past wars. A monument dedicated to Buddy McLain, a young soldier from Mexico who died last year while serving in Afghanistan, will be unveiled. U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, will address the crowd.
The American Legion invites all veterans to participate in this year’s parade. They do not need to be members of the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars to do so. Rides will be provided to veterans who are unable to walk or do not wish to walk in the parade.
The American Legion also invites people to enter floats in the parade, especially those with patriotic themes. Judges will determine the top three floats, which will receive cash prizes.
Immediately after the parade, Post 24 will host an open house with refreshments for children participating in the parade. The adult parade participants are invited to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Waldo Street for refreshments.
For further information on the parade and other events, contact Tom Buotte at 357-7110, Kirk Thurston at 357-3287 or the American Legion at 369-9053.
dfayen@sunjournal.com
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