CHESTERVILLE — Community groups and individuals will honor the town’s military veterans on Armed Forces Day this weekend.

The Chesterville War Memorial Honor Day begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, with an American Legion Honor Guard ceremony at the Honor Roll Monument at Zions Hill and Borough roads.

Chesterville veterans of all wars will be honored at one of the first monuments erected in town after World War II, Greg Soule, president of the Chesterville Heritage Society, said. It was originally dedicated in 1946 and rededicated in 1995.

The names of veterans of World War I and II are inscribed on it.

“We have a number of people coming from quite a distance for this event,” Caroline Tibbetts said. She came up with the idea for the event and is a relative of an Honor Roll veteran.

The Farmington American Legion will hold a wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremony. The flag flew over the Capitol, Soule said.

State Rep. Russell Black, R-Wilton, and state Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, will attend. Selectmen and other townspeople also will participate.

In 1949, a single Armed Forces Day replaced separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days, representing the unifying of the armed forces under the U.S. Department of Defense.

“President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense website. 

Following the ceremony at the monument, participants will gather across the road at the Chesterville Center Meeting House for a reception, exhibits and an open microphone for words of remembrance, music or other appropriate tribute to Chesterville veterans.

Community spirit was so much different during the days of the wars than it is now, Soule said.

A Servicemen’s Club was started during World War I and World War II. Chesterville residents also raised funds for the monument, he said. They lived closer together and had more community spirit.

Several organizations have collaborated to host the day, including the Chesterville Heritage Society, Chesterville Extension Homemakers, Chesterville firefighters and selectmen, Chesterville Grange and Chesterville Center Union Meeting House.

The public is welcome to bring memories, photos or memorabilia to share.

“We hope for a good turnout,” Soule said. “It is unfortunate we have to have veterans but if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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