LIVERMORE FALLS – 

REGION — Memorial Day services will begin bright and early on Monday. The theme this year is to honor area Gold Star Families.

Community members are needed to help in a variety of ways. Anyone who will be participating is asked let organizers know to help them with their planning.

Gold Star Families are those who have lost a son, daughter, brother or sister in combat. Anyone with a Gold Star Family License Plate, Gold Star Pin or Membership is invited to be a parade marshal for the parade.

Organizer Don Simoneau wants the community to know that this is their parade. Scout troops, bands, floats, antique cars and trucks, church groups, and other organizations are encouraged to participate.

Simoneau said veterans are still needed to be part of the Honor Guard that will lead the parade. Positions include Rifle Guard, American Flag, Maine State Flag, Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, POW/MIA, VFW, AmLegion, AmVets and Second Rifle Guard. “It would be fantastic to fill all of them!” he said.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Color Guard should be at the Parade Line – Up by 9:30 a.m. Uniform for the Honor Guard is Military Cap or Veterans Organization Cap and Uniform. Military, Police, Fire, or EMS Uniform – all are welcomed to participate in the Honor Guard!

All veterans may step in and join the parade at any spot along the parade route. Any veteran, regardless of age, is welcome.

To date, $140 towards the $540 needed for parade insurance has been collected. Donations may still be made to help cover this cost. Simoneau is still waiting for clarification from the insurance company on any restrictions that may be in place for trailers, etc.

The order for the parade will begin with police escorts and a NorthStar Ambulance. Parade Marshalls (Gold Star Families) will be next followed by the Color Guard (Post 10 and Veterans).

Active duty military personnel will then fall in followed by the Commander and Presidents of Veterans Organizations. Knight of Columbus 4th Degree, trailers for veterans who can’t march, and the RSU #73 high school band will be next.

Next in line will be Miss Clover AmVets Post 33, Miss Poppy American Legion Unit 10, Miss Buddy and Master Buddy Poppy VFW 3335. Any other organization that wishes to participate and those with animals will go next with area fire trucks making their way ahead of the police escorts that will mark the end of the parade.

For more information or to tell organizers that you or your group will participate, contact Diane Getz at 320-0103 or email Don Simoneau at [email protected].

Below is the full schedule of events.

Memorial Day May 25, 2015 Schedule of Services:

6:30 a.m. Meet at VFW Post 3335 (Honor Guard-Veterans-Veterans Organizations-Citizens)

7 a.m. Livermore Falls Memorial Bridge (Prayer and Wreath VFW Post 3335)

7:20 a.m. Livermore Veterans Memorial (Prayer and Wreath AmVet Post 33)

7:45 a.m. Jay POW/MIA Bridge (Prayer and Wreath VFW Post 3335)

8:15 a.m. Jay Hill Cemetery (Prayer, Dorothy White)

(Wreath and Firing Squad by Memorial Day Committee)

8:45 a.m. VFW Post 3335 (Prayer and Wreath by VFW Post 3335)

9 a.m. Parade Line-UP starts at Memco parking lot, Main St Jay

10 a.m. Parade Begins

Stops made along the parade route include:

Chisholm Square WWII War Memorial (Prayer, Speech and Wreath by VFW Post 3335)

RSU 73 Band (National Anthem- Song – Taps)

Richardson Cemetery (Prayer and wreath by AmVets)

RSU 73 Band (National Anthem- Song – Taps)

Grand Army of the Republic Monument (Prayer and wreath by KC Council 320)

RSU 73 Band (National Anthem- Song – Taps)

Livermore Falls Union Park ( Prayer Speech and Wreath by Legion Post 10),

Fire Police EMS Monument (Prayer and Wreaths by Fire-Police-EMS)

RSU 73 Band (National Anthem- Song – Taps)

12:15 PM Fayette Memorial (Prayer and Wreath by Legion Post 10)

1:15 PM Leeds Memorial in Leeds Center, Corner of Rt 106 and Church Road

[email protected]