American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 prepares for Windham’s Memorial Day Celebration

More than 950 flags will be placed on the graves of Windham's
fallen veterans as part of this year's American Legion Post 148's
celebration of Memorial Day this year. Other activities include
a parade, and a picnic at the Windham Veterans Center.
COURTESY PHOTO 
  

By David Tanguay

Special to The Windham Eagle

So much to celebrate! The State of Maine was unable to mark its 200^th year in 2020 and the Town’s Memorial Day events for 2020 were severely curtailed with a just a simple ceremony at the Windham Veterans Center. Please join the community and the American Legion this Memorial Day, May 31, in more traditional festivities. 

For almost 30 years the Field-Allen Post has been the architect of the town’s Memorial Day events. Some Covid-19 protocols may still be in place for these events.

This year the Legion will be conducting its traditional events with a few new twists and asking the community to increase their involvement with floats or decorated vehicles to replace some of the more traditional entries that may not be available such as the Windham High School band.  Please register any entries by sending an email to dtanguay46@aol.com.

The preparation for the Memorial Day events starts in January each year with notifications, requests and planning of the respective events. In early May the flags that are to be hung on the utility poles around the Town’s highways and byways are assembled and made ready. New flags are ordered as needed as well as ordering some 950 flags to be placed on the graves of our fallen veterans. Since 2005, the Legion has placed the 100 flags around town in preparation for the summer and Memorial Day. The flags will go up this year on the weekend of May 22. The program is a collaboration between Windham and the Legion. The town purchases the flags on a triennial cycle and the post provides the hardware and manpower to place the flags.  The flags fly until Labor Day. 

Also, during the week before May 22, teams of veterans will cover the 20 some odd smaller cemeteries in the town with veterans interred there, to place some of the 950 flags on the graves of our veterans. On May 22, weather permitting, teams of veterans and community members will meet at 9 a.m. at Arlington Cemetery in North Windham (adjacent to the Fire Station) to place the final 300 plus flags on the veterans interned there.  For any groups interested in helping, this is an opportunity for volunteer organizations and the community to come out and share in the flag program. At Smith Cemetery the town is fortunate to have a group of our young cadets from Windham High perform the flag placements.

Next on the list is Memorial Day, Monday May 31.  This is the busiest day with multiple events and several opportunities  for the community to get involved. The town’s parade kicks off at 9 a.m. from the Town Hall and proceeds onto Route 202 in the direction of the high school. The best vantage point for viewing is from the area around the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202.  This year the Legion is asking for business and community support to make the parade truly memorable.  At one time in the past the Memorial Day parade was the largest parade in town (no competition from SummerFest) and was extremely well attended. Over the past few years it has become a shadow of its former self.

There is also a need for open vehicles (convertibles preferred) to provide rides for some of our less ambulatory, senior veterans.   We will be using the Korean War era M-37 Truck for our veterans as well and ask that if any vet would like to join us in the parade, please give me a call. We will find room for you. The parade is not limited to a specific war era, any Veteran who would like to march with the Legion or VFW component is welcome. All groups or individuals desiring to join the parade should meet and check in by 8:45 a.m. in front of the Town Hall on School Road. As previously noted, advanced registration would be helpful.

The parade is a short jaunt from School Road to the Windham High School lower parking area and terminates at the Town’s Veterans Memorial (Flag Pole).  At about 10 a.m. the Memorial Day ceremonies commence. Guest speaker this year is U.S. Army Major Brenda Pennels, Maine's Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army. Master of ceremonies will be Legion Post Commander Eric Bickford, who will coordinate the ceremonial events including: wreath laying, the bell tolling for our lost veterans this year and the ceremonial burning of flags removed from veterans’ graves, and the traditional rifle salute and taps.

Last on the agenda is an open house at noon at the Windham Veterans Center with a picnic style luncheon open to the public hosted by the Field-Allen Post.  There will be brief recognition ceremony prior to the picnic in the Windham Veterans Center Memorial Garden with a dedication of a granite bench to one of our own World War II veterans, John Cooper. Following the ceremony, a picnic luncheon will be provided.

All the events noted are open to the public. We sincerely hope that you can find the time to join us for one or more of these events over the Memorial Day period and help us celebrate the 102 years of service by the Legion to veterans and the community. 

To volunteer support or register an entry in the parade please contact, Post Adjutant, Dave Tanguay at 207-892-1306. <