American Legion prepares for Memorial Day events by Dave Tanguay

Looking ahead to Memorial Day, the American Legion Field-Allen Post has started the extensive schedule with the assembly of the flags to be placed on the highways and byways within the town on Saturday, May 20.   
 

This will be the 12^th year that the Legion Post has decorated the utility poles with approximately 100 American Flags around town. 

The program is collaboration between the Town of Windham and the Legion Post. The flags are purchased by the town on a triennial replacement cycle and the Legion provides the hardware, the poles and the manpower for the enterprise.  

The Flags will fly until Labor Day.

Also during the week of May 20, over 850 flags will be placed on the graves of Windham Veterans. Smaller and remote cemeteries are typically done during the week, with a culmination of work on the larger cemeteries, such as Arlington and Smith on the morning of May 20.   

Any groups interested in helping with this program may meet at Arlington Cemetery in North Windham at 9 a.m.

On Saturday, May 27, the Field-Allen Post will hold its eighth annual food drive to support the Windham Food Pantry’s Summer Youth Program. The Food Drive is held at Wal-Mart in North Windham from 7 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Both non-perishable food and monetary donations are gladly accepted. 

Each year a military truck is placed next to the store entrance with the goal of “Filling the Truck”. For those interested in antique vehicles, the plans are to have a 1951 ¾- ton military vehicle available.

Next on the list is Memorial Day. On May 29, the town’s parade will kick off the events at 9 a.m. The parade will start at the town hall on School Road and will proceed right onto Gray Road (Rt. 202), then through the Windham Center intersection and on to the Windham High School.  

Once at the school, at approximately 10 a.m., the Legion will host a Memorial Day Ceremony. This part of the ceremony will include music from the Windham third grade chorus, the Windham High School Marching Band, as well as a guest speaker, a ceremonial flag burning, a bell ceremony and the rifle salute and taps.

Last on the agenda is an Open House at the Windham Veterans Center, with a picnic-style lunch hosted by the Legion Post, followed by a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Garden to recognize the fallen and to install a dozen new commemorative pavers.

All events are open to the public. 

The Legion Post has coordinated the town’s Memorial Day programs for many years now and hopes that many of you will come out and join us to remember our Veterans.  For more information, contact Dave at 892-1306