The Mapleton Lions Club hosted the 2021 Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony.
This year Memorial Day morning was rainy, and as a result the parades in Presque Isle and Caribou were cancelled. However just prior to the Mapleton parade formation, the clouds lifted and the rain stopped. Because of the threat of rain, the parade was smaller than usual, but it stepped off on time at 2 p.m.
Each year a military veteran is selected to be the grand marshal. This year Michael Ireland of Chapman was selected. Ireland achieved the rank of sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
Donald Turner is pictured in his Mapleton Memorial Day parade vehicle with his daughter Carol Soucy driving. At age 95, Don is the oldest veteran and citizen of Castle Hill. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The Lions Club thanks all who marched in the parade. Don Turner, who is the oldest citizen (95) in Castle Hill and a veteran from World War II, was pleased to be able to participate in the parade this year. Additionally the Mapleton-Chapman-Castle Hill Fire Department was well represented with their drivers and the fleet of firefighting vehicles. A hit at at this year’s parade was the Maine Fiddlehead Festival with their Queens and Princesses handing out a lot of candy to children and adults. The Maine State Police and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office led the parade as they have for many years.
Mapleton Lions Wes Buck, Steve Hanning and Matt McCartney place memorial wreaths on the Veterans Monument in Mapleton as part of the Mapleton Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, followed by a salute to those veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice in the defense of the country. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
After the parade the Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Veterans Memorial Monument at Mapleton Elementary School. Speaking at the ceremony was Sandra Fournier, town manager for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill. Michael Ireland, who is the associate pastor of the Mapleton Baptist Church, offered the Invocation and benediction prayers. An inspirational version of the Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Kaci Chapman.
The Mapleton Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal was Michael Ireland, who served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The laying of the memorial wreaths at the monument was conducted by the Lions Club and Fire Department. The ceremony closed with the playing of taps by Presque Isle High School 11th-grade student Brenna Morneau.
Young Authors Recognized
On May 14, 2021, the Aroostook County annual Young Authors event was held, involving students from Mapleton Elementary School.
Young writers from all across Aroostook County usually attend the event in person at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, but as was the case last year, this was not possible as the campus is closed to outside groups. Teachers and supporters decided to utilize their virtual resources to hold the event.
Mapleton Elementary School Young Author winners from 2020 and 2021 include, from left, front row, 2020 winners Peyton Chandler and Audrey Bennett. Back row, 2021 winners Aubrey Miller, Henry Robinson, Grace Hilton and MacKenzie Vigue. The students from last year were invited because the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Courtesy of Valerie Black)
Because the event was not held last year due to the pandemic, students from last year were invited to attend and compete in this year’s virtual event. Students were each chosen based upon the writing they did for their classes. These young authors will have their individual pieces published in an anthology, given to all writers with additional copies being sent to school libraries.
As part of the event, the students attended online a keynote address by author Megan Frazer Blakemore, followed by virtual workshops from a choice of published authors like Lynn Plourde, Josh Alves, and Mary Cerullo.
Mapleton Elementary student winners for 2020 were Peyton Chandler and Audrey Bennett, while the school’s 2021 winners included Aubrey Miller, Henry Robinson, Grace Hilton and MacKenzie Vigue.
Valerie Black, fifth-grade teacher at Mapleton Elementary School, stated, “The school and parents are very proud of the accomplishments of these students.”
Mapleton Daze memorial
The Mapleton Daze Committee asks residents and visitors to join them as they host a COVID-19 memorial ceremony on June 22.
The Committee wants to honor those lost in Aroostook County and the state of Maine.
For this ceremony, they will have public speakers, Pastor Nathan Gardiner, local singers and many others. Biodegradable remembrance balloons will be released to represent each Aroostook County person lost to COVID-19. There will be tree seedlings as well as flower seed packets for those in attendance to take home to plant in honor of those who were lost.
The committee hopes everyone can attend and help them kick off Mapleton Daze 2021, scheduled from June 22 through June 26, 2021.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
