Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 790)

The first observance of Memorial Day tomorrow will be the traditional parade sponsored by the City of Portland and the Harold T. Andrews Post 17, American Legion.  The parade starts at Longfellow Square on Congress Street and ends at Monument Square with a wreath laying ceremony at Monument Square.

 The parade starts at 10:30 am at Longfellow Square on Congress Street.  At 10:45 am there will be a fly over.  The parade will progress to Monument Square where at 11:00 am there will be the traditional speaking and wreath laying ceremony.  Guests speakers will include representative of Seantor Olympia Snowe Cheryl Leeman and the City of Portland Mayor, Nicholas Mavodones.   The Fly over will be sponsored by the US Air Force.

The second observance will be the unveiling of a plaque honorg sixteen  fallen police officers.  That ceremony will take place at the police department courtyard, 109 Middle Street, Portland, at noon. 

The Portland Police Memorial Plaque is inscribed with the name and rank of each of the officers who lost their lives through illness, accident or in the line of duty while in service to Portland.  It will serve as a regular reminder to all who enter the building of the service and sacrifice of these officers.