BRUNSWICK — Parades and events are scheduled all over the Midcoast to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States armed forces.

The Topsham-Brunswick Memorial Day Parade will run its normal route from the Topsham municipal office to the Brunswick Mall. An observance begins at the monument by the Topsham town office at 8:35 a.m. and the parade starts rolling at 9 a.m., led by antique cars. The parade is expected to end around 11 a.m., with another observance to follow on the Brunswick Mall.

Parade committee Chairwoman Tasha Connors said the parade does not longer have a theme, unlike previous years, but floats and bicycle decorating will still be judged. She estimates as many as 50 parade participants this year, with many returning from past parades.

The grand marshal of the parade is Capt. Earl Riffle of Brunswick, the 31st commander of Patrol Squadron Eight at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. Now 79, he served as commander of the squadron from February 1978 to March 1979. During that time the squadron was deployed to Bermuda and Lajes, Portugal. Riffle’s first assignment was to flight training. He as designated as a Naval Aviator in 1962.

It was also during his command that a P-3 Orion from the squadron crashed in Poland Spring, killing 8 men. There will be a moment of silence for them during the ceremony on the Brunswick Mall Monday.

Riffle left that command to assume other commands before reporting for his final assignment as the Dan of Students Naval War College in Newport, R.I. in  1986. He remained there until he retired in 1990.

Capt. Sean Liedman is the guest speaker for the Memorial Day observance. He served as a Naval flight officer for 25 years before retiring as a captain in 2016. He logged 3,800 hours in the P-3C Orion plane and the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. He commanded Patrol Squadron 8 in Brunswick and the Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11. His staff assignments included two tours in the Air Warfare Division on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in the Pentagon and a tour as the executive assistant to the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

Liedman currently serves as the President of the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum at Brunswick Landing.

Monument Place in Topsham will close around 7 a.m. Main Street in Topsham closes at approximately 8 a.m. near the town office and the rest of the parade route below Elm Street in Topsham closes by the start of the parade.

Other Memorial Day events in the Midcoast:

Bath — A ceremony will take place at 8 a.m. Monday at the Civil War monument in Oak Grove Cemetery, followed by a procession to the river, where a wreath will be placed. The parade will begin at the American Legion Smith Tobey Post 21, continue down Lincoln Street to Centre Street and onto Front Street into Library Park. There will then be a ceremony at the war monument in Library Park, where remembrance wreaths will be placed.

Dresden — The Lincoln County Historical is hosting the 65th Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. Monday at the flag pole on the parade grounds of the Pownalborough Courthouse. Masonic Chaplain Bruce Alexander of Dresden, assisted by a local Revolutionary War Living History group, will lead a program of honor for fallen soldiers.

Durham — The town’s Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, starting at Davis Road, traveling down Royalsborough Road and ending at Durham Community School.

A Memorial Day Fun Fair will take place at Durham Community School after the parade until 1 p.m.

Also taking place Monday is the AmVets 5K Fun Run, with proceeds supporting AmVets Post 13. Check-in is at 7 a.m. at AmVets Post 13, located at 1049 Royalsborough Road, with the race to start at 8 a.m.

Freeport — A parade will leave Holbrook Street at 9:30 a.m. Monday and end at the town park on Bow Street, where a ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. A field of red poppies will be placed around the soldier monument. Each poppy is dedicated to a loved one that served on the U.S. Armed Forces and is now passed.

Harpswell — A wreath will be dropped from the Ewing Narrows Bridge at 10:15 a.m. Monday. At 11 a.m., a parade will leave the Old Town House at Lookout Point, ending at Allen Point Road.

Lisbon — A parade coordinated by Coombs-Monfort Post 158 will be held on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. It will begin in front of Lisbon High School and move along Route 196 toward downtown, turning up Main Street, turning left onto School Street and then right onto Addison Street ending behind the MTM Center on the field. The parade will conclude with a guest speaker at the gazebo.

There will be a ceremony at noon at Post 158 on Webster Street with the laying of wreaths at the veterans memorials.

Richmond — Starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday, members of American Legion Post 132 in Richmond will visit eight cemeteries in Richmond, Dresden and Bowdoinham. Post commander Brenda Dearborn, an honor guard and chaplain, will conduct the special ceremonies.

Richmond’s parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the high school and make its way down Main Street. When the parade reaches the waterfront park, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place before the flag is raised to full staff. Post member John Thrower will be the guest speaker. The parade will then return to the high school. Refreshments will be available for participants at the American Legion Hall on Carding Machine Road.

Wiscasset — A Memorial Day observance will be hosted by American Legion Post 54 of Wiscasset at 9 a.m. Monday at the veteran’s memorial at the Wiscasset Town Office, followed by coffee and doughnuts at the post’s hall at 523 Bath Road.

Woolwich — The Annual Town of Woolwich Memorial Day Service will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the Woolwich Wiscasset Baptist Church. Leaders or members from the other Woolwich Churches (Day’s Ferry Congregational, First Baptist, and North Woolwich Methodist) will take part.

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