The Weld Cooperative Extension meets Tuesday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. before their summer break (no official meetings in July and August) for their annual picnic. They occupy the cabin at Proctor’s Pond from 10:30 a.m. until about 2 p.m., for their picnic–bring something good to share for the luncheon.

On Wednesday, June 10 the Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. in the Multi-purpose room in the Town Office complex. Also on June 10 the Weld Historical Society has their second meeting of the season at 7:30 p.m. and the program will be on the Post Offices in town, the different buildings which served as Post Offices, and the different types of vehicles utilized to get the mail in and out of town over the last two centuries.

The Board of Selectmen meeting has been re-scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 (and the next one being re-scheduled to Monday, June 22). Flag Day is Sunday, June 14, so be sure to fly the U.S colors with honor. Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. the Weld Public Library Book Club meeting is at the Pirtle/Karasko residence on School Street and they will be discussing “The Girl with No Name” this month. If you are interested in joining don’t worry if you haven’t read this month’s selection for discussion. If they are reading a book that is very lengthy they try to schedule it a few months in advance.

The Mystic Tie Lodge #154 will be meeting in their chambers upstairs at the Town Hall on Wednesday June 17 at 7:30 p.m., and the Webb Lake Assoc. meets at 7 p.m. in the Multi-purpose room in the Town Office complex on Thursday, June 18.

For those of you who were unable to attend the Monday, May 25 Memorial Day celebration here in Weld, you missed quite an event. Though the Weld celebration and parade are small perhaps, by comparison to some others around this State, we are a proud and patriotic town! Many in attendance have not been there in years past but were there this year, the children from other towns in Maine, to support a family member who was being given a special honor on this day.

Sean Minear led the service with these words as well as the poem “Decoration Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which were followed by speeches from Senator Saviello and Representative Tom Skolfield and concluded with presentation by the Ladies of the Lake.

Sean began with: “We are assembled here today to honor those individuals from our community, who gave, in Lincoln’s words, ‘the last full measure of devotion.’ It is, again to quote from the Gettysburg Address, ‘fitting and proper’ that we do this.

“We gather at this spot, as we have for so many years, in the presence of veterans, family members, friends and local and state dignitaries. We are also appreciative of the Old Crow Band’s presence here today. Our attendance at this event is part of the true, deeper meaning of this Memorial Day.

“Decoration Day, as this day was first known, was established when Civil War widows and former slaves gathered to decorate both Union and Confederate graves in Charleston, South Carolina and Waterloo, New York. Today, if any of you here were to travel to Robertson, Mountain View, Newman or Center Hill cemeteries, you will see the graves of our veterans decorated with American flags. The sheer number of flags in each of our graveyards attests to the service and sacrifice of so many local members.

“At this time I would ask that all those present who have served in any branch of the armed forces, please stand and step forward and be recognized.

“The Ladies of the Lake would like to present the only surviving veterans of World War II with a small memento of their service to us their town and their country, Eagle Canes made by Mr. & Mrs. George Gunning, Windsor, ME of the Eagle Cane Project. To find put more about these canes you can go to WCSH/Channel 6 Eagle Canes for Veterans.

“We would like to take this opportunity to publicly express our gratitude to these three men who served in World War II and Korean Conflict, veteran’s still living here in Weld. Native Sons, as they were residents at the time of their enlistment, and their families are well known in our Town’s history–Lawrence “Rusty” Lee, Bernard Vining and Edmund Hutchinson.

“Would you all please come forward now as your awards are primarily the same but if you look closely they are uniquely yours.

“Lawrence Lee or “Rusty”, as we all have come to know him, served in the US Army from the fall of 1942 until the fall of 1945 in the European, African and Middle Eastern Campaigns, and was wounded several times. He earned a number of medals, among which were the Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Rifle medal, Gold Star, Purple Heart and Oak Leaf Cluster. He was discharged with a rank of Technical Sergeant.

“Bernard was enlisted in the US Army in July 1943 and discharged Dec. 3, 1945 as a Private First Class. He served in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery in seven countries during his two years including–England, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Wales.

“Edmund served in the US Navy Reserves from July 14, 1946 until July 14, 1950. Then he enlisted in the US Army and served from Nov. 3, 1950 until Dec. 1, 1952 during the Korean Conflict when he was discharged with the rank of Corporal.”

This was followed by congratulations, pictures and well wishes to the recipients by those present!