NORWAY — Three new flags have been raised by the Stone-Smart American Legion Post 82 in time for Monday’s Memorial Day parade.

In January, members of the Post voted to replace two of three flags stolen late last year from the town’s memorial park and to add a security system.

The Legion’s U.S. flag, Prisoner Of War and State of Maine flags that hung over Veterans Memorial Park at Paris and Main streets were stolen sometime during the night of Pearl Harbor Day when they were at half staff. The memorial park in front of the Rowe Elementary School across Main Street from the American Legion had no security measures and officials theorize that someone might have simply cut the flags down.

The American flag was quickly replaced through a donation from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office but Post officials waited to get the additional flags until the security measures were in place.

“We just finished getting all the security. It will be harder for someone to just drive by with a pocket knife and walk off with a flag, said Commander Ron Snow. He has received more than $400 in private donations that enabled the new security system to be put in place and to pay for the new flags provided by U.S. Sens. Collins and Olympia Snowe and state Rep. Tom Winsor’s office.

Snow said the Norway Fire Department helped install the security unit with their ladder truck and the flags were raised Thursday morning.

“We’re all set,” said Snow of the new flags and a new American flag that was placed on the Post home in time for the parade.

Snow has asked that everyone who is participating in the parade meet at the parking lot behind the Fare Share Market this year, instead of at Advertiser Block, to line up for the 9 a.m. procession down Main Street.

There will be a wreath laid at the Civil War monument near Norway Savings Bank and a service at the memorial park under the new flags. Refreshments will be served at the Post after the parade.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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