Memorial Day, a day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, will be observed Monday, May 26.
Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women who died in any war or military action.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day, and then Memorial Day, used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that, from 1971, the Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day, and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season. In central Aroostook County, a handful of events are planned.
Town offices closed
Non-essential municipal offices will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of the holiday. This includes all town offices in the region.
Mapleton
The Mapleton Lions Club will again host the Mapleton Memorial Day activities. First, club members will see to the hanging of the U.S. flags on Main Street early in the morning. Then at 2 p.m., the Mapleton Lions will lead the Memorial Day parade, which will begin at the traditional assembly point on Dudley Road just off Main Street. Lineup will begin at 1 p.m. and everyone is welcome to participate. Calls to secure a place in the parade are not necessary. Just come and join in. If you would like to call and leave a message that you will be participating, call 764-4916 and leave a message.
The parade will end at the Mapleton Elementary School where the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will be held. The parade is held in honor of all our veterans and the Remembrance Ceremony is for honoring the sacrifices of veterans who left home to defend and protect our liberty. The club encourages all of its Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill neighbors to come and help remember these many sacrifices.
Also at the same time as the Mapleton Remembrance Ceremony, many veterans and families will be up at the Veterans Cemetery in Caribou to show their respects to loved ones who no longer are with us. The Mapleton Lions Club encourages everyone to attend one of these special ceremonies to honor our veterans’ sacrifices.
State Route 163 in Mapleton will be closed from Dudley Road to Mapleton Elementary School from 2-3 p.m. for the parade. Please call the Town Office at 764-3754 for more information.
Mars Hill area
William Cousins Post 118 of the American Legion will be having ceremonies in the local cemeteries on Memorial Day at the following places and times: Westfield at 9 a.m., Mars Hill at 9:20 a.m., Blaine at 9:35 a.m., Robinson at 10 a.m. and Bridgewater at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend as Post 118 members pay respects to those who served.
Post 118 is also having a canoe raffle. The canoe is a red Discovery Old Town canoe and comes with two paddles and two life vests. Tickets are one for $6 or three for $15 and can be purchased from any member of Post 118. You don’t have to be present to win, however, the drawing will be held at a post barbecue on Saturday, June 14.
