CARIBOU, Maine — In honor of fallen soldiers, family members raised 30 flags at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery on Monday, May 11.
Flags waved in the wind as families patiently waited to raise them in the memory of loved ones. The Loring Honor Guard presented our nation’s colors just before the Caribou High School choir sang the national anthem.
Cemetery Chairman Harry Hafford’s voice echoed through the avenue of flags as he read aloud the names of deceased decorated veterans and the arenas where they fought.
When it came time to raise their flags it was Sgt. Major Roger Felix of the Loring Job Corps who gave the order. Lloyd Woods read the benediction, “To honor those comrades who answered the final call,” Woods said as the flags flapped high above.
Beverly Raymond of Caribou raised a flag in honor of her husband Donald, “I don’t know of anything finer,” she said. “They gave so much for so long. They gave up what they were doing to serve our country.”
Hafford said the cemetery has held this ceremony for the past four years and that people come from all over the state to attend. The ceremony closed with taps played by the Caribou High School choir.
The public is invited to a Memorial Day ceremony held at the cemetery on Monday, May 25, at 1 p.m.
