BATH

Led by the Smith-Tobey American Legion Post color guard, the city’s Memorial Day parade will begin, in military fashion, precisely at 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Parade director and Smith-Tobey Post 21 past commander Edwin Morton Sr. will serve as grand marshal for the parade, which turns right from the Legion Hall onto Congress Avenue. Marchers will go from there to Lincoln Street and then to 10 Centre St. for the wreath-laying at the Soldier’s Monument, where Boy Scout Troop 621 will play “taps.”

Chartered by Smith Tobey, Troop 621 has been serving youth since 1921. Today the troop carries on the Scouting program for character development, citizenship training, mental and physical fitness.

A POW/MIA float will be a feature of the parade. There will be Cub Scouts as well, in addition to the fire trucks and Shriners cars that children love so much.

Morton, a 1969 Boothbay High School graduate, served on Navy aircraft carriers from 1969 through 1971. One of them was off the coast of Vietnam.

“This parade means a lot,” Morton said. “It gives us a chance to say our farewells and our thanks to our fallen who gave up their lives for our freedoms.

Morton also likes to go to the area hospitals and visit veterans on Memorial Day.

“It gives me a great honor to represent the American Legion, and just to say ‘thank you,’” he said.

Legionnaires will assemble at the Post Home between 6 and 7 a.m. At 8, Sons of the Union Vets will gather at the cemetery.

American Auxiliary Unit 21 and Sons of the American Legion also will march.

After the cemetery visit, the parade will continue onto Front Street turning left onto Lincoln Street where it will disband. The Memorial Service then begins at Patten Free Library, and all are encouraged and welcome to attend the service.

At noon, following a fallen heroes ceremony, free refreshments will be served at the Elks Club.
lgrard@timesrecord.com