HOULTON, Maine — Area veterans will pay their respects to those who died serving their country on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.
A number of activities are slated in southern Aroostook County with ceremonies set for Houlton, Oakfield and Patten.
In Houlton, the Chester L. Briggs Post No. 47 will gather at Soldier’s Hill on Smyrna Street for a short ceremony and wreath laying at 9 a.m. At 10:15 a.m., veterans and others will gather at the North Street bridge for a brief ceremony and tossing of a wreath into the Meduxnekeag River.
From the bridge, participants will march through downtown Houlton, ending at Monument Park for an 11 a.m. ceremony. A public barbecue lunch follows at the Legion Post on Bangor Street.
Also in Houlton, “The County Remembers” inaugural event will be held to honor Aroostook County heroes. The Wilderness Walk for Warriors, Warriors in the Workplace, Marine Corp Vet League, Maine Army National Guard, and Competitor ME will host a day of events collectively termed “The County Remembers.”
The itinerary features an “Honor Run” half marathon, beginning at the Blue Moose restaurant at 9 a.m. in Monticello. Runners will pause at the Machias Savings Bank in Houlton, where flags honoring 11 deceased veterans from the most recent military conflicts will be collected and carried by runners around 11:30 a.m.
Those 11 veterans are: Sgt. Blair Emery, Lee; Specialist Dustin Harris, Patten; Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Henderson, Houlton; Sgt. Joel House, Lee; Specialist William Koellsch, Milo; Cpl. Dustin Libby, Presque Isle, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Lowery, Houlton; Staff Sgt. Michael Severence, Lee; Staff Sgt. Jessica Wing, Littleton; 1st Lt. James Zimmerman, Smyrna Mills; and Cpl. Devon Strout, Milo.
The runners will pause at the west gate of the Houlton Community Park, where any participating family members of the 11 veterans will be presented the flags and escorted to the Millar Civic Center.
An opening ceremony will take place, followed by the 2nd annual Wilderness Walk for Warriors Memorial Day 5K road race, with runners starting and finishing at the Civic Center. That race is slated to begin around noon.
A barbeque luncheon also will be offered, and there will be display tables/booths; an Honor Guard presentation with the playing of the National Anthem; guest speakers; musical selections from live bands; and closing remarks.
In Patten, a Memorial Day cookout will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Patten’s Park on Main Street. The cost is by donation and the menu will feature hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas and chips.
Live music will be played and all donations will go toward the Main Street flags program.
In Oakfield, the Frank B. Holden Post No. 52 will gather for a brief ceremony at the Oakfield Cemetery, led by Commander Jim Burton with prayers by Chaplain Eli Crane.
All veterans will then meet at Post No. 52, where they will ride to the Oakfield Community Center to participate in a short parade to the Four Corners Veterans Monument at 10:15 a.m., to include musical selections from the Southern Aroostook Community School band.
