RUMFORD – Two separate events will mark this year’s Veterans Day observance, beginning with a ceremony at 10 a.m. at Mountain Valley High School, followed by the dedication of a new veterans memorial at 1 p.m. at Veterans Park.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Women’s Auxiliary sponsor the annual service at the high school. Until recent years, a parade took place in Rumford, but with many veterans aging, a decision was made to hold the event in the school.

The featured speaker at the 10 a.m. service will be Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, who is on the Veterans Affairs Committee in Augusta. Emcee will be local businessman Ron Theriault.

Phil Theriault, past commander and current chaplain of the local VFW, said the Civil Air Patrol will provide the color guard, and patriotic music will be performed by the Mountain Valley High School band and the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts.

A student-produced film on the nation’s wars will be shown. The Rev. Kelly Harvell of Rumford United Methodist Church will give the opening and closing prayers.

Phil Theriault asks that all veterans arrive at the school at 9:30 a.m. to line up.

At 1 p.m., a special celebration to honor past, present and future veterans will take place at Veterans Park at the end of Congress Street.

A new granite monument honoring local veterans who are buried overseas or elsewhere will be dedicated. In addition to the central headstone, veterans’ names, ranks, dates of death, and places of burial are placed on a smaller granite stone in front of the headstone.

Len Greaney has been researching the names of veterans buried in distant places. He also led the fund-raising effort to buy the stones.

Also at the ceremony, the names of local servicemen and servicewomen who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be read.

The local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will lead the color guard and Pledge of Allegiance. Patriotic music will be provided by the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts.