PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — First-, second- and third-place ribbons will be awarded for the best floats in this year’s Memorial Day parade in Presque Isle.
“This is the first time we’ve awarded ribbons,” said Randolph Michaud, commander of the Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599, which is sponsoring the parade. “We thought that might be a way to get more people involved.
“The last four or five years the parade has seen a decrease both in terms of parade entries and spectators,” he said. “The amount of people standing on the side of the street to watch the parade has been dwindling and we’re trying to bring it back. We’d like to see the streets packed with people and see a pretty large parade. Maybe offering prizes will entice some people to enter a float.”
The 84th annual Memorial Day parade will start promptly at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26. Line-up begins at 8 a.m. at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. A ceremony for veterans will be held at 9 a.m. at Fairmount Cemetery. The parade will stop at the Park Street Bridge where a wreath will be thrown in the river to honor veterans of the Navy, while a closing ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street following the parade, which will be held rain or shine.
This year’s Memorial Day parade will feature the theme “Respect, Honor, Remember.”
“There’s no restrictions on entries,” said Michaud. “Any business or organization that would like to participate is invited to do so. The only thing we ask is that their float be decorated in a patriotic theme.
“Just about everybody around here has a veteran in their family, and by being involved in the parade, you’re honoring that veteran that’s within your family,” he said. “That’s what Memorial Day and the parade is for; it’s not for me or you or anybody else, it’s to honor the veterans. If you want to honor a veteran, put a float together, come up to UMPI and put it in the parade.”
Entry forms, which are available through the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, can be mailed to: Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599, 6 State Road, Presque Isle, Maine 04769 or dropped off at the Post home. The application deadline is May 17. For more information, call the Post at 764-5441 or email vfwpost2599@gmail.com.
