BRUNSWICK —Midcoast residents joined people around the nation recognizing America’s fallen service members during Memorial Day ceremonies Monday. 

“From the American Revolution to our current operations against the enemies of liberty around the globe, more than 1.1 million Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in wars and conflicts,” retired U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Liedman said during a Memorial Day observance on the Brunswick Mall. 

“And that number would rise to an incalculable number if we included all of the servicemen and women who died in peacetime while preparing for or deterring war,” he continued.

Liedman served as a naval flight officer for 25 years, retiring as a captain in 2016. He logged 3,800 hours in the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Liedman was also the 61st commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 8, based at Brunswick Naval Air Station until the base was decommissioned in 2011. VP-8 is now based out of Jacksonville, Fla. His staff assignments include two tours in the Air Warfare Division and chief of naval operations staff in the Pentagon, as well as a tour as the executive assistant to the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

Monday he remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our fallen heroes are first and foremost on our mind today, Liedman said.

“They are the ones who answered the call to service and paid the highest price imaginable, the loss of their life,” he said.

The struggle continues for the families of those many fallen.

“They wake up every day and are faced with the question of ‘Why?’ or ‘What if,’” Liedman said, “and so we salute them and embrace them today as well.”

While Memorial Day exists to memorialize those who perished in service to their country, Liedman also recognized veterans who survived war. Many live with the physical and emotional scars of having served alongside those who didn’t survive. 

“Their sense of loss is also profound on this Memorial Day and we salute them as well,” Liedman said. 

He wasn’t surprised to see so many veterans at the observances. Maine’s veteran population is nearly double the national average, with 11.2 percent of Maine citizens identifying as veterans. That legacy runs deep in Maine, he said.

On June 6 the world will observe the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.

“We can’t overstate the strategic impact of the Allied landing at Normandy to liberate the European continent from domination by Nazi Germany,” he said. “It literally changed the trajectory of the lives of everyone present today and continues to shape the world we live in.”

More than 2,100 Mainers made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, he said. More than 240 Mainers perished during the Korean conflict and more than 340 Mainers died during the Vietnam War.

Younger generations have fought and died in places like Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syrian.

Brave men and women continue to step forward to take the oath of office as members of America’s Armed Forces, willing to fight and if necessary die for the sake of our freedom.

“Therein lies the strength of America, and we should all find comfort that the sacrifice of our fallen heroes was not in vain,” Liedman said. “We still live in a land where freedom rings and will continue to do so as long as the next generation steps up to defend it. I’m confident they will.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com