AUBURN — The names of two Lewiston-Auburn men killed while serving during the Vietnam War will take their place on a pair of bridge memorials Aug. 10.
New plaques that memorialize 29 Lewiston-Auburn men killed during the Vietnam War will be unveiled and dedicated at a ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, on the Auburn side of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge just off Center Street.
Crews from the Maine Department of Transportation will install the plaques in the week after the ceremony.
The original matching memorials were installed in 1973.
The new plaques will have 29 names, two more than the current plaques. There will be 12 names from Auburn and 17 from Lewiston. Each name represents a native son of the Twin Cities who served his country and died during the Vietnam War.
Additions are U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gerard L. Bosse of Auburn and U.S. Army Pfc. Roger J. Dumond of Lewiston. Both names were left off the original memorial.
The new markers are also personalized for each city: In Lewiston, the Lewiston vets will get top billing. The names are reversed in Auburn, with Auburn’s vets on top.
The hourlong ceremony will feature color guards from local groups and presentation and prayers from local dignitaries, according to Paul Bernard, public relations officer for the American Legion’s Androscoggin County District 3 and the former commander of the New Auburn American Legion Post.
Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald will read the names of the Lewiston men and Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte will read the names of the Auburn men followed by a three-cannon volley salute and taps.
Onramps and offramps at Center Street will be down to one lane during the ceremony.
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