OAKFIELD, Maine — Residents of two rural communities lined the streets for brief Memorial Day services and parades on Monday.
Veterans from throughout the Oakfield area gathered at the town cemetery shortly after 9 a.m. for a brief service to honor the fallen and a three volley salute from the Honor Guard. A small wreath was tossed into the water off the Ridge Road bridge before a parade continued down the street.
A deputy from the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department led a line of veterans, floats from local businesses and organizations, sports teams and emergency services workers through the community. Fire trucks sounded their horns as children tossed candy into the crowd. The Southern Aroostook Community School band played throughout as the procession continued past the Veterans War Memorial at Four Corners.
Miriam Shaw of Oakfield and a group of her friends attended the parade, which was sponsored by American Legion Post No. 52.
“My father was a veteran of World War II who stormed onto one of the beaches on D-Day,” she said. “He came every year to this parade when he was living, and I come every year to either this parade or the one in Patten. It is so important to honor our living veterans and fallen soldiers.”
Michael Sawyer, another resident of the community who also attended the parade and service, said, “I had a nephew who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. My family has a long tradition of military service and it is important for us to come to an event like this each year.”
His nephew was an infantry soldier who saw “significant combat” while in both countries.
“It is too bad that we continue to have to send soldiers into the line of fire,” Sawyer said. “And it is important to recognize and support them.”
In Patten, a small parade and service also was conducted. The procession snaked along Mill and Station streets and continued to the cemetery on the North Road.
A service was then held at the cemetery.
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- The Southern Aroostook Community School band participated in the Memorial Day parade in Oakfield on Monday, May 28. (Jen Lynds)
