Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine (2024)

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Tons of towns have parades and ceremonies happening Monday.

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Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine (1)
Aimsel PontiPress Herald

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Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine (3)

Kids and adults gather at a Memorial Day parade to honor and celebrate veterans in South Portland. Sofia Aldinio/ Staff Photographer

BATH
10 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at 200 Congress Ave. and concludes at Library Park and will be followed by a wreath-laying service at 11 a.m.

BERWICK
11 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at Berwick Town Hall/Sullivan Square and proceeds to Lord’s Cemetery by way of Wilson and Allen streets. After a ceremony there, the parade will continue down Saw Mill Hill Street with a pause at the Somersworth-Berwick Bridge for a brief memorial service for those lost at sea. The parade ends at Sullivan Square with a memorial service honoring area veterans.

BIDDEFORD-SACO
Opening ceremony at 9:55 a.m. Monday at Saco City Hall. Parade starts at 10 a.m. from Saco City Hall and proceeds along Main Street and down York Hill into Biddeford, continues along Main Street, onto Alfred Street and finishes at Veteran’s Memorial Park with a closing ceremony at 10:45 a.m.

BRUNSWICK-TOPSHAM
9 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from Topsham Town Hall, pauses for observances while crossing the Brunswick-Topsham bridge, and concludes at the Brunswick Mall.

CAPE ELIZABETH
9 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at the middle school parking lot, turns right on Scott Dyer Road, right onto Route 77 and ends at the village green adjacent to the town hall. A brief ceremony and laying of the wreath will be held at the Village Green after the parade.

CUMBERLAND
8 a.m. Monday. Kids run at Greely High School followed by 5K Run and Remember race at 8:30 a.m. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Mabel I. Wilson School and ends at the veterans’ monument in Moss Side Cemetery in Cumberland Center, where a ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m.

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FALMOUTH
10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from 65 Depot Road (Falmouth American Legion) to Pine Grove Park, where a ceremony will be held.

FREEPORT
9:30 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from Holbrook Street, heads north on Main and makes a right onto School Street, then right onto Park Street, ending in Memorial Park. There will be a small ceremony in Memorial Park starting at 10 a.m.

GORHAM
11 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Village School (12 Robie St.) and ends at Eastern Cemetery on Johnson Road.

GRAY
11:30 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves the Russell School (8 Gray Park), proceeds to Shaker Road and continues to the Soldiers Monument at the intersection of Routes 26 and 3 for a wreath-laying ceremony. Parade continues north to the American Legion Post (15 Lewiston Road) for a closing ceremony.

LYMAN
1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts at Waterhouse Road/Mill Pond in Goodwins Mills and ends at the Lyman Town Hall on South Waterboro Road.

NEW GLOUCESTER
9 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Memorial Elementary School (86 Intervale Road) and heads down Intervale Road to Route 100/202 to Veterans Park for a memorial service. The parade will reconvene and go down Peaco*ck Hill Road, then take a left on Gilmore Road.

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OLD ORCHARD BEACH
1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts at the corner of Ballpark Way and E. Emerson Cumming Boulevard and proceeds down Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach Street to First Street and ends at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

PORTLAND
2 p.m. Monday. The procession starts at Longfellow School (432 Stevens Ave.) and ends at Evergreen Cemetery for a commemoration ceremony.

SANFORD
10 a.m. Monday. The parade starts at the Sanford Armory (88 William Oscar Emery Drive), proceeds up Gowen Park Drive and ends at Central Park.

SCARBOROUGH
10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Scarborough High School, turns onto Route 114 and then Route 1, past town offices to the Maine Veterans Home and concludes with a ceremony there.

SOUTH PORTLAND
10:30 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Southern Maine Community College parking lot, proceeds down Broadway to the Veterans Monument for a short Memorial Day recognition service.

WELLS
9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Wells High School (200 Sanford Road) and proceeds to Ocean View Cemetery for a ceremony and musical performances.

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WESTBROOK
10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Main Street and will be followed by a ceremony in Riverbank Park.

WINDHAM
9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Windham Town Hall and proceeds onto Route 202 toward Windham High School. At 10 a.m., there will be a ceremony in front of Windham’s Veterans Memorial Flagpole at Windham High School.

YARMOUTH
10 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Yarmouth High School (286 West Elm St.) and proceeds to the Memorial Green at Town Hall for a ceremony.

YORK
10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts near St. Christopher’s Church (4 Barrell Lane) and proceeds down York Street to York Town Hall.

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Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine (4)

Latest Articles

Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine (2024)

FAQs

What is the observance of Memorial Day? ›

It is observed on the last Monday of May. It is a day for visiting cemeteries and memorials to mourn the military personnel who died in the line of duty. Volunteers will place American flags on the graves of those military personnel in national cemeteries.

What does Memorial Day mean to me? ›

This weekend is Memorial Day, our national holiday to honor those who have lost their lives serving in the military and defending our country. My heart goes out to anyone who has lost a loved one serving our country, especially to those for whom this pain is recent and raw.

What not to do on Memorial Day? ›

Here are some things you should not do on Memorial Day:
  • DON'T WISH ANYONE A “HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY” ...
  • Do not thank current service member. ...
  • Do not forget about the purpose of the holiday. ...
  • DON'T DISREGARD ITS IMPORTANCE. ...
  • DON'T FORGET IT EXISTS. ...
  • DON'T LET POLITICS KEEP YOU FROM RENDERING RESPECT.

Why is it important to observe Memorial Day? ›

Of the two official United States holidays recognizing the commitment of members of America's military services, Memorial Day honors those who lost their lives while defending their country.

What are three ways to celebrate Memorial Day? ›

5 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day
  • Brush up on American history. If there was a time to do it, it's now. ...
  • Fly the American Flag. Memorial Day is an excellent time to wave our red, white, and blue! ...
  • Take a moment of silence. ...
  • Donate flowers for soldiers' graves. ...
  • Volunteer.

What do we honor on Memorial Day? ›

On Memorial Day, we honor the heroic men and women who gave their lives while defending our nation and cherished freedoms. These heroes were fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, loved ones and friends who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to something bigger than themselves.

What to say on Memorial Day? ›

Patriotic Memorial Day captions
  • Valor. Duty. Honor.
  • Thank the brave, who serve on high.
  • Integrity first, service before self.
  • Give 'em hell!
  • Home of the brave.
  • To those who've gone before, we thank you for your fighting spirit.

What flower is worn in honor of Memorial Day? ›

The United States also has a long tradition of using the poppy to raise funds for veterans' organizations. The Veterans of Foreign Wars was the first veterans' organization to organize a nationwide distribution of poppies when they led a distribution before Memorial Day in 1922.

What is an interesting fact about Memorial Day? ›

President Johnson named Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966. Waterloo first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866. However, several other towns have also claimed to be the holiday's birthplace, including Charleson, South Carolina; Columbus, Georgia; and Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

Why is Memorial Day happy? ›

“That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.” Memorial Day, a federal holiday held the last Monday in May, is the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women.

Why do we celebrate the memorial? ›

The real meaning of the holiday is meant to honor all U.S. soldiers who have died serving their country. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day's history goes back to the Civil War. It was was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Why can't you wear white on Memorial Day? ›

By the 1950s, women's magazines started making this “no white after Labor Day” rule more public. Wearing white only between Memorial Day and Labor Day now signified that a lady was part of the in-the-know fashion club.

Do you thank a veteran on Memorial Day? ›

Most people say “Happy Memorial Day” or they will take to social media to thank veterans for their service. But many veterans say this makes them uncomfortable because it's not about them. For some, the freedom to celebrate holidays is why they risked their lives.

What to say instead of Happy Memorial Day? ›

Rather than “Happy Memorial Day,” say something like “Have a meaningful Memorial Day.” It's also not appropriate to thank a service member for their service on this day, as it is a day for remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, according to the Wound Warrior Project.

What is the proper way to acknowledge Memorial Day? ›

How to Observe Memorial Day
  • By wearing your Memorial Day Button from the first of May until Memorial Day.
  • By visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
  • By flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. ...
  • By attending religious services of your choice.
  • By visiting memorials.

What is the protocol for Memorial Day? ›

On Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset, in honor of the nation's battle heroes.

How do Americans observe Memorial Day? ›

Some ways to observe the holiday are by attending Memorial Day services in your community, paying tribute in remembrance of service members who have died while serving, and you can visit a veterans' cemetery to honor those who have impacted your life.

What do you do to show respect for Memorial Day? ›

Fly the American flag

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, flying the American flag at half-staff from dawn until noon on Memorial Day is an easy, but significant way of honoring deceased veterans.

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