RUMFORD — A downpour at the start of the Rumford-Mexico Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, did not hamper efforts to honor and remember veterans.

Equipped with rain jackets and umbrellas, the parade started from the American Legion Post 24 in Rumford, stopping at the Rotary Memorial Green.

“Today, I ask that everyone take some time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives in the line of duty to their country,” Rumford Select Board Chairman Chris Brennick said.

In honor of Memorial Day, House District 78 Rep. Rachel Henderson said that the crowd gathered not just as citizens, but as a community.

“We’re bound together by history. We’re bound by the names on the plaque that stands right before us. We’re bound together by our shared values and by our deep gratitude,” Henderson said. “Our very peace, our freedom, and the very ground beneath our feet were bought at a price” she said.

Henderson said it was a day to remember and honor the brave men and women who wore the uniform of our nation and gave what Abraham Lincoln called the last full measure of devotion.

“When we look back at history, Maine has always answered the call. From the rolling hills here in western Maine to the farthest corners of our country and the world, our young people have stepped forward. Maine has a long but quiet history of carrying a disproportionately heavy share of our nation’s military burden,” she said.

Henderson said Maine’s service members didn’t go out looking for glory.

“They went because they possessed a quiet bravery,” she said. “The kind of bravery that says my country, my town, my community and these people are worth defending.”

Bravery isn’t just found on the battlefield, Henderson added.

“It’s also found right here at home and its faces of ordinary life,” Henderson said. “We all know when a soldier, an airman or marine goes to war, their family goes with them in spirit.”

And when a life is lost to our country, Henderson said the sacrifice does not end on the battlefield, but it’s carried forward every single day by the families who are left behind.

“Your loved ones did not just belong to your families, they belonged to our town,” she said. “We share your pride when their names are mentioned and when their names are read. We share your sorrow and we pledge to never let their names or stories fade into the past, and the proof of that is the fact that many people in their community right now are standing out in the pouring rain to show honor and remembrance to those lives that have been lost.”

She added, “We strengthen our community when we support our local veterans. When we raise children to understand the value of service, we are honoring the sacrifice of those we lost.”

Following the ceremony, the parade continued into Mexico, ending at the Veterans Memorial Green where District 77 Rep. Tammy Schmersal-Burgess spoke.

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