Seems hard to believe that another year has passed but local plans for Memorial Day activities in Windham have been in the works for some time now. This year Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 25 and members of American Legion Post 148 in Windham are organizing a series of community events coinciding with the holiday.
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| American Legion Post 148's Honor Guard participate in last year's Memorial Day Observance at Windham High School remember8ing deceased Windham military members and veterans. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
Charles William Wallace “Chick” Field grew up in Windham and helped his widowed mother and sisters work on the family farm. He attended Bowdoin College and by 1915, Field was working various jobs for the Grand Trunk and Boston and Maine Railroads.
When war was declared against Germany, he joined the U. S. Army and was commissioned as an officer at the Plattsburg, New York Training Camp before being transferred overseas in October 1917.
During a battle at Chateau-Thierry, France on July 18, 1918, Lt. Field led a group of soldiers down into a deadly railroad cutting, behind a built-up embankment where the enemy shot at them. Field was shot and killed by a German sniper. His body was returned to Windham, and his grave can be found in Smith Cemetery.
In 1938, some 20 years after Field’s death, Windham World War I veterans and prominent town residents formed the Lt. Charles W. Field American Legion Post in Windham. Roland Ward served as the group’s first commander. In 1949, the post became the Field-Allen Post to recognize U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant James Allen of Windham, who had died during World War II. He was a nephew of Field.
The Field-Allen post coordinates the Town of Windham’s Memorial Day activities and ceremonies.
According to Post 148 Adjutant David Tanguay, Memorial Day 2026 events kick off on Saturday, May 16 with the decoration of veteran’s graves in Windham.
“Teams of veterans and volunteer groups will meet at Arlington and Smith Cemeteries to place U.S. flags on the 350 veterans buried in Arlington and 120 at Smith Cemetery,” he said. “Those organizations or individuals who desire to assist can meet at the cemetery at 9 a.m. for assignments. Earlier in the week other teams will spread out over the remaining cemeteries in Windham to place flags.”
Tanguay said that about 1,000 flags will be distributed on veteran’s graves throughout cemeteries in town.
The annual Memorial Day Parade in Windham will be bigger and better this year due to the interest in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, Tanguay said.
“Participants in the 2026 Memorial Day parade will assemble on School Road (Town Hall) at 8:30 and step off at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 25,” he said. “The Grand Marshall this year is a longtime town favorite, Roger Timmons, a member of the local VFW and Legion Post.”
Timmons will ride in Gary Plummer’s traditional 1965 Red Mustang.
Anyone wishing to honor Windham’s veterans by joining the parade may do so by calling 207-892-1306. The Post 148 Parade Committee is looking for marching and walking units, scouting groups, floats with a USA 250th or veteran’s theme, Jeeps, military vehicles, antique vehicles including cars, trucks, and tractors to join the parade lineup and help make the parade memorable.
The parade route starts by Windham Town Hall, winds down Windham Center Road and onto Gray Road (Route 202) before ending at the Veterans Memorial at the lower Windham High School flagpole.
Immediately following the parade, Legion Post 148 will conduct a Memorial Day Observance starting with the National anthem performed by the Windham High School and elementary school band students. Guest speaker at the event will be retired U.S. Air Force Brig. General Paul Loiselle of Windham.
In 1938, some 20 years after Field’s death, Windham World War I veterans and prominent town residents formed the Lt. Charles W. Field American Legion Post in Windham. Roland Ward served as the group’s first commander. In 1949, the post became the Field-Allen Post to recognize U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant James Allen of Windham, who had died during World War II. He was a nephew of Field.
The Field-Allen post coordinates the Town of Windham’s Memorial Day activities and ceremonies.
“Teams of veterans and volunteer groups will meet at Arlington and Smith Cemeteries to place U.S. flags on the 350 veterans buried in Arlington and 120 at Smith Cemetery,” he said. “Those organizations or individuals who desire to assist can meet at the cemetery at 9 a.m. for assignments. Earlier in the week other teams will spread out over the remaining cemeteries in Windham to place flags.”
Tanguay said that about 1,000 flags will be distributed on veteran’s graves throughout cemeteries in town.
The annual Memorial Day Parade in Windham will be bigger and better this year due to the interest in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, Tanguay said.
“Participants in the 2026 Memorial Day parade will assemble on School Road (Town Hall) at 8:30 and step off at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 25,” he said. “The Grand Marshall this year is a longtime town favorite, Roger Timmons, a member of the local VFW and Legion Post.”
Timmons will ride in Gary Plummer’s traditional 1965 Red Mustang.
Anyone wishing to honor Windham’s veterans by joining the parade may do so by calling 207-892-1306. The Post 148 Parade Committee is looking for marching and walking units, scouting groups, floats with a USA 250th or veteran’s theme, Jeeps, military vehicles, antique vehicles including cars, trucks, and tractors to join the parade lineup and help make the parade memorable.
The parade route starts by Windham Town Hall, winds down Windham Center Road and onto Gray Road (Route 202) before ending at the Veterans Memorial at the lower Windham High School flagpole.
Immediately following the parade, Legion Post 148 will conduct a Memorial Day Observance starting with the National anthem performed by the Windham High School and elementary school band students. Guest speaker at the event will be retired U.S. Air Force Brig. General Paul Loiselle of Windham.
Timmons will be leading the traditional wreath placement and ceremonial retirement of flags that were removed from local veteran’s graves during this past year. A bell will toll as the names of area veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day are read. The ceremony wraps up with the traditional three-volley rifle salute and taps.
At noon on Memorial Day the public is invited to the Windham Veterans Center, at 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham for the dedication of two garnet benches in memory of Post 148 members Henry Chuck Whynot and Kevin Ronan. There will be an additional dedication of a black Memorial Stone to honor the Post 148 Past Commander and World War II pilot Carroll McDonald.
After the Memorial Garden Ceremony at the Windham Veterans Center, the public is cordially invited to a picnic-style luncheon to celebrate the holiday. <
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