FREEPORT – Memorial Day is much more than a transition between a time of relative calm and when Freeport and other coastal communities begin the tourist season.
It’s more about paying tribute to veterans, and once again Freeport will be all in for Memorial Day. American Legion Post 83, the renowned Freeport Flag Ladies, Scouts and school bands all will make the annual Monday morning parade and ceremony special. A full day earlier, the South Freeport Congregational Church once again will invite a local veteran to do its Sunday morning Scripture reading, and the Flag Ladies will be on hand for that, as well. The service starts at 9:30 a.m.
Gloria DeGrandpre, whose family has a long history of military service in town, has organized the Memorial Day festivities.
“It’s remembering the veterans,” said the former Gloria Fogg, whose mother was a Coffin. “We go way back. I’m a committee of one.”
DeGrandpre said that Police Chief Jerry Schofield used to organize Memorial Day.
“He wasn’t able to do it anymore, and I said, ‘We’ve got to have a parade,’” DeGrandpre said. “I like to have all the Scouts and all the civic organizations participating.”
DeGrandpre said that the Freeport High School and Freeport Middle School bands will provide the patriotic music that is so essential to a Memorial Day parade.
Parade formation begins at 9 a.m., outside the high school. The parade will proceed to the Town Hall for a brief ceremony, and from there down Main Street, onto School Street and to the Town Park near Hilton Garden Inn.
Joyce Clarkson-Veilleux, commander of the American Legion, said that Peter Richter and Charles DeGrandpre are World War II veterans who will stand on the Legion float for the parade.
“We’ll be passing out little flags to the children, and we’ll have some people on the float,” Clarkson said.
This year, Carmen Footer, Elaine Greene and JoAnn Miller, known collectively as the Freeport Flag Ladies, will ride in a car along the parade route. Footer is recovering from heart surgery in March.
“We’ll drive in Carmen’s convertible,” Greene said. “She’s not up for that kind of walking just yet.”
Greene said that the Flag Ladies have taken several requests to appear at other Memorial Day festivities.
“We would like to stay right here in town,” she said. “Our Memorial Day parade is small. We’re wanted in several places, but we can’t do it all.”
The ceremony at the Town Park will start at 10.
The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will sing patriotic songs. Earl Smith, a member of First Parish Church, will say a prayer. Sarah Gideon, District 106 House member, and Town Council Chairman James Hendricks will speak. Members of Legion Post 39 will place flowers around the Civil War Monument.
Earlier Monday morning, a Memorial Day Main Street Mile, a family jog/walk and run/race, begins at 8. Proceeds will benefit the Freeport High School Running Boosters. The entry fee is $10 per individual or $8 per runner in an immediate family of four or more. Prizes will go to the winners in several age groups. The race will begin at the intersection of Holbrook and Main streets, behind Freeport High School, along Snow Road to Elm Street and end at the L.L. Bean Ski & Bike store. For more information, see www.runinarace.com/MainStreetMile/index.html.
Peter Richter, a World War II veteran and member of the J. Arthur Stowell American Legion Post 83 of Freeport/Pownal, places a flag on the grave of a Civil War soldier at Woodlawn Cemetery in Freeport. Post members have been placing flags on the cemeteries located in Freeport since their charter in 1923. They want to ensure that each veteran’s grave has a holder and flag placed prior to Memorial Day. Joyce Clarkson-Veilleux, post commander, said all veterans deserve a flag, and did not need to have served during a time of conflict. Send questions/comments to the editors.
