OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Residents and tourists alike lined the streets of Old Orchard Beach and congregated in Memorial Park to watch the annual Memorial Day parade Monday.

“Every year, our parade is special because it’s put on to honor our military. It’s what this day is for,” said Town Clerk Kim McLaughlin.

The parade began at the police station, came through the center of town, and ended in a ceremony at Memorial Park. All four branches of the military were represented.

The Old Orchard Beach High School and Loranger Middle School marching bands played in the parade, while the Little League teams walked with parents and coaches and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts marched with their leaders.

The parade was dedicated to the late Robert McNally, a member of the Air Force, who had worked year after year to organize the parade.

“The dedication of today’s parade to Robert McNally is very fitting and very well deserved,” said Rep. George Hogan, D-Old Orchard Beach. “Bob worked very hard each year to make this parade what it is. He often said to me and others that this was the biggest and the best of all state parades, and I have no doubt that it is. Although Bob is no longer with us, I’m sure we can all agree that this parade was his baby, and we thank him for it to this day.”

Gov. Paul LePage was also in attendance at the ceremony in Memorial Park following the parade.

“Our nation has given much. Thousands of brave souls have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the American ideas, our history and our nation. Today we pause to commemorate those comrades, the fallen heroes, we are forever in debt to,” said LePage.

LePage urged everyone to remember and honor those who had lost their lives fighting for the United States.

“We wave our American flags in honor of each and every service member who has laid down their life for us, for they have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and our liberties that we cherish so dearly,” said LePage.

LePage’s appearance at the ceremony was a highlight for many involved in the planning of the day’s events.

“It was important that the leader of our state was here to honor our military,” said McLaughlin.

Nancy Kelley, the mother of Captain Christopher Cash who was killed in Iraq in 2004, echoed McLaughlin’s sentiment.

“For him to come to Old Orchard, I’m honored. I know he has a full schedule,” said Kelley.

After the ceremony, a smaller ceremony was held nearby at the tree dedicated to Captain Cash. American flags, flowers and pictures decorated the base of the tree, where a stone bench engraved with a dedication Cash sits.

“He’s buried down in North Carolina, so I don’t have a grave that I can visit. I do this instead,” said Kelley.

A large crowd gathered to watch the ceremony in the park, and McLaughlin said she was thankful for the strong turnout.

“We thank all of the people who are here to honor our military,” she said.

Both McLaughlin and LePage stressed the importance of remembering the true meaning of Memorial Day and not just regarding it as a day off from work or a day to have a family cookout.

“As many enjoy a day away from work, as we line up the streets to watch the parades, hold cookouts with family, let us not forget the true meaning of the day. To the families who have lost loved ones, we thank you for sharing your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your aunts and your uncles. We thank you on this very important Memorial Day,” LePage said.

— Paige Allen is an intern with the Journal Tribune. She is a graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School and a student at Stonehill College.