American Legion’s Memorial Day service in Wiscasset
Wiscasset’s Rupert Flood adds the POW/MIA cloth to the empty chair representing those still unaccounted for. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Ed Polewarczyk, William “Bill” Maloney and Ben Rines. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Carolann Rines, left, and Arlene Polewarczyk. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Rupert Flood, left, and Bruce Poland. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Tom Stoner plays “Taps.” SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset’s Teresa Fogg with Labradoodle Sam dress patriotically for the observance. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Diane Munsey carries a wreath during the ceremony as Post Cmdr. William “Bill” Cossette Jr. looks on. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Mike Barnes helps before the ceremony. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset’s Rupert Flood adds the POW/MIA cloth to the empty chair representing those still unaccounted for. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
From left, Ed Polewarczyk, William “Bill” Maloney and Ben Rines. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Carolann Rines, left, and Arlene Polewarczyk. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Rupert Flood, left, and Bruce Poland. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Tom Stoner plays “Taps.” SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset’s Teresa Fogg with Labradoodle Sam dress patriotically for the observance. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Diane Munsey carries a wreath during the ceremony as Post Cmdr. William “Bill” Cossette Jr. looks on. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Mike Barnes helps before the ceremony. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
As all stood at the veterans' wall at Wiscasset's town office Memorial Day morning, American Legion Post 54 placed a folding chair and fit a POW/MIA cover over its backrest.
Post Cmdr. William Cossette Jr. told attendees, the empty chair, a part of all official Legion meetings, is for those "still unaccounted for in all wars and conflicts involving the United States of America," he said from the Legion's suggested words for explaining about the chair. "This is a reminder for all of us to spare no effort to secure the release of any American prisoners from captivity and repatriation of remains of those who died bravely in the defense of liberty, and a full accounting of those missing. Let us rededicate ourselves to this vital endeavor."
A moment of silence followed.
In and before the Memorial Day ceremony, held like always at 9 a.m., Legion members and others were giving thanks for servicemen and women's sacrifices and, this time, for the weather; the observances on Memorial Day and Veterans Day often take place in a cold wind. Monday morning, the sky was blue, the wind light and the sunshine bright.
"Finally we got a nice day to be outside," Cossette remarked. "This is good."
Before the ceremony, Wiscasset's Carolann Rines said: "I really, really feel so blessed to live in Wiscasset, and that we live in a free country."
