LEWISTON — Band music, patriotic songs and colorful marchers were the highlights of a Veterans Day “Pass in Review” ceremony at Lewiston Memorial Armory shortly before noon Friday.

Units of area veterans’ organizations participated in the annual event. Aging veterans from several branches of the military were joined by half a dozen Girl Scouts from Troop 2082 in Lisbon. They proudly marched in front of the large audience with their leaders, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Heidi Baird and co-leader Amy Broadbent.

The Girl Scouts were learning about Veterans Day, and following this program, they were headed for Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street to find names on the large granite monuments there.

Auburn Mayor Jonathan P. LaBonte told attendees he visited Park Avenue Elementary School where he was greatly impressed by a program of songs for parents and grandparents. After the recent rancorous presidential campaigns, he said it was a delight “to see these children celebrating what unites them, not what divides them.”

Lewiston Mayor Robert D. Macdonald noted that a young woman stopped to thank him for his military service, but he told the veterans and families that he feels he should thank his fellow citizens for the opportunity to serve his country.

The mayor also urged veterans and their families to support and take advantage of the Veterans Administration services locally, as well as at the VA Center at Togus.

The organizations passing in review were: American Legion Post 22; American Legion Post 153; AMVETS of New Gloucester; Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11; Franco American War Veterans of Lewiston; VFW Posts 1603 and 1950; a POW unit; a large contingent of uniformed members of the Lewiston High School Air Force Junior ROTC; the Knights of Columbus; and members of the Civil Air Patrol.

The Edward Little High School Marching Band and color guard entertained with several numbers. The national anthem and a patriotic song were sung by Haley Martlock of Lewiston.

Jerry DeWitt, chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Veterans’ Council, served as master of ceremonies for the program at the armory. He called attention to a large bell on a trailer outside the building. He explained that the charred timber to which it is attached is from a church in South Auburn, and he said there is a fund-raising effort to restore it.

Units of area veterans’ organizations participated in the annual event. Aging veterans from several branches of the military were accompanied by half a dozen pre-teen Girl Scouts, who proudly marched with their leaders in front of the large audience.