Written by Bob Jørgensen | 15 May 2009

For the 11th year in a row, Shirley Thompson is planning the annual Harpswell Memorial Day parade to be held Monday morning, May 25th.
The parade will feature the Mt. Ararat HS band, old cars, marching units from the local Boy and Girl Scout troops, Cub Scouts and Brownies, an American Legion color guard, a small equestrian group, led by Ms. Thompson's daughter, Janis Morrell and her friend Kim Stone, bagpiper Donald Duncan and finishing up with fire engines and members from all three fire departments. The Sheriff's Department will provide traffic and crowd control.
As in previous years, the parade will gather at 10AM and step off at 10:15AM from the Lookout Point Road and proceed south to the town center for commemorative ceremonies with a wreath laying and rifle salutes by the members of AL Post 171 accompanied by the trumpeters of the Mt. Ararat band, who will play Taps. The parade will conclude at Allen Point Road.
This year's ceremony will open with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Dorrie Barnes and a vocal tribute by Dan MacMahon, followed by an invocation by Rev. Veronica Gonsoir, pastor of the Cundy's Harbor Church of the Nazarene. Two West Harpswell School students will speak following the invocation. The keynote address will be given by Cpt. Jonathan Field, USMC, RET. Cpt. Field will travel from his present home in North Carolina to speak to the local crowd. The decorated veteran had previously spoken in Harpswell during similar ceremonies held 21 years ago. The ceremony will conclude with a benediction by Rev. Gonsoir, followed by refreshments at the Grange, courtesy of Legion Post 171.
Equestrians and owners of antique and classic cars are invited to join the parade. Call Shirley Thompson at 833-2984 for further information.