PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Hundreds of people gathered to honor Aroostook County’s veterans, both past and present, during the annual Memorial Day parade and subsequent ceremony in Presque Isle on Monday.
Around 30 community groups and individuals from military organizations, police and fire departments, to Central Aroostook’s 2018 pageant queens marched or rode a mile down Main Street as part of the parade.
Despite a chilly start to the morning, hundreds gathered on the sidewalk to wave at parade participants and reflect on what Memorial Day means to them.
“Today is an important holiday for me because my father served in the Navy during World War II and my brothers have been to Iraq and Saudi Arabia,” said Tina Fitzherbert of Presque Isle. “They all returned home safe, but watching the parade makes me think of those who sacrificed their lives for all of us.”
Norma Levesque of Presque Isle also attended the parade in honor of local veterans, including her father and brothers.
“For me, Memorial Day is about remembering those who fought and are still fighting for our freedom,” Levesque said.
This year marked the first time that the Disabled American Veterans Smart Ricker Chapter 10, based in Presque Isle, has hosted the Memorial Day parade and ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, according to DAV Commander Carl Olson. In past years the events were put on by the American Legion.
Olson, himself a Vietnam veteran, opened the ceremony and addressed all members of military organizations and supporters who were in attendance, including from American Legion Post 88, The Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hayward Frazier Post 2599, and the Knights of Columbus.
“On this Memorial Day, let us pledge ourselves to the patriotic service of our veterans, so that those who have died in heroic duty may not have died in vain,” Olson said.
Craig Fay, also a Vietnam veteran and member of the Marine Corps League, gave the invocation and asked everyone to honor and pass down the stories of veterans who have fought and made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Let us honor those who served their country and gave their lives so we can stand here and still live in freedom,” Fay said. “Let us carry their honor, duty and love to future generations so that they know why those who died created our pathway to freedom.”
Members from each attending military organization then placed flowered wreaths alongside a memorial that honors veterans. The ceremony closed with Marine Corps League members Wayne Caron and Gary Soucie raising both the American flag and a flag honoring veterans who became prisoners of war or missing in action during combat. Those in attendance stood in salute to honor veterans both living and deceased who fought in service to the country.
