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(File photo)
(File photo)

Memorial Day parade & luncheon on hold until 2022

Fri, Feb 19th 2021 07:00 am

By Lewiston’s Memorial Day Remembrance Committee Inc.

Every Memorial Day since 2016, we have remembered our fallen veterans with a Memorial Day parade, community luncheon and a veterans memorial ceremony at Academy Park.

Unfortunately, the celebration in 2020 was canceled due to the virus and, more unfortunately, the Remembrance Committee has decided to cancel the event again in 2021.

The Remembrance Committee decided that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of the availability of vaccinations for everyone by Memorial Day, that the full parade and community luncheon would not be appropriate. Those who have attended for the past few years would understand that, with the size of the crowd (over 500), it would definitely be difficult to ensure safe distancing.

Each year’s event requires a great deal of upfront work. Parade participants need to practice. The dancers need to perfect their routines. The Lewiston Choraleers need to rehearse. In addition, the meal provided by the Brickyard companies, the dessert by Hibbard’s, the water by Tops Markets and all the other donations in money and in kind would be wasted considering the low turnout that would occur without vaccines for everyone.

The good news is that the structure of the Remembrance Committee is intact. All those parade participants, the marchers, the Kiwanis parade marshals, the Air Force Color Guard, the Bugles across America taps player, the dancers, the reenactors to fire the musket salute and so many others who spent so much time to present our program to you are ready to do it again as soon as it is safe. The donations of money for the celebration of 2020 remain safely in the bank.

As part of the celebration, Lewiston’s VFW Post 7487 has presented the veterans wreath ceremony according to VFW standards and procedures. I am sure the VFW will honor our war dead with a VFW memorial ceremony on May 31.

Lewiston’s Memorial Day Remembrance Committee will do our best to provide our parade, lunch and remembrance ceremony in honor of our war heroes on Memorial Day 2022.

Thank you for your past support and encouragement.

Lewiston’s Memorial Day Remembrance Committee

Norm Machelor, Chairman

Anne Welch, Vice Chairman

Victor Eydt, Secretary

Claudia Marasco, Publicity

Dale Williamson, Treasurer

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