Theodore Bardsley, a World War II veteran, was the grand marshal in York's Memorial Day Parade on May 26.
Photo by Tori Rasche
Members of Boy Scout Pack 301 bow their heads in prayer during a Memorial Day ceremony hosted by York VFW Post 6977 and American Legion Post 56.
Photo by Tori Rasche
Ret. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Charles Andrews pauses at one of seven stops along the Memorial Day Parade route where wreaths were placed to honor local residents and veterans.
Photo by Tori Rasche
YORK VILLAGE - From infants in arms to octogenarians who remember the events of World War II first hand, residents of all ages turned out to line York Street on May 26 and pay tribute to the town's veterans, both living and deceased.
The parade was a celebration of patriotism, with flags like the one held by Johanna Bennett and Amanda Lillie along the parade route that read "America Cares" and the one six-year-old Timothy Perkins carried as he rode his bike, with uniforms from every branch of the service and with music by the York High School and York Middle School bands.
There were somber moments, too, as veterans paused at each of the town's war monuments, placing memorial wreaths to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
When the parade reached its conclusion, a line of Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, school band members, police, firefighters, veterans and others who participated in the parade itself - along with the countless residents who had lined up to watch it - made their way to the highest corner of First Parish Cemetery for a memorial program hosted by York Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6977 and American Legion Post 56.
As the flag was raised to the sounds of the National Anthem, performed by the York High School Band, the faces of the town's oldest veterans, seated together in a place of honor near the podium, were fixed upon the flag.
Following the opening prayer by Rev. Linda Hirst of the First Parish Church, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Deputy Commander David Kelly and former Maine Sen. Mary Andrews offered patriotic remarks.
Kelly thanked all those who attended the event, describing the history of Memorial Day and its importance as something far greater than another day in a holiday weekend.
"An unbroken line of Americans have answered the call for 230 years," he said of the nation's servicemen and women, describing their enlistment as, in effect, the act of "writing a blank check to the United States of America."
When those blank checks are written, he said, they cannot know what the repayment will be.
"For some, the check is cashed for the full amount," he said, "the life of the man or woman who answered the call."
He urged Americans to always honor those who have given of themselves, and in many cases, their very lives, for freedom, reading from the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields."
"God rest them all, and God bless America," he said.
For her part, Andrews shared the very personal story of a family member, Carlton Andrews, who was a World War II veteran and who marched in the Memorial Day Parade every year leading up to his death last fall - even when his vision had nearly failed and he had to follow Andrews, who said she would wear a white shirt that he could focus upon to keep marching in the parade.
"I marched today for Uncle Carlton," she said.
Before the ceremony's conclusion, the VFW and American Legion honored York High School sophomore Katrina Graves with a special award for exceptional patriotism. During the current school year, Graves sought to have the Pledge of Allegiance returned to the morning routine at York High School. When the time came to vote on whether say the pledge each day, however, the majority of students voted not to, with many citing the length of morning announcements as their reason.
Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Roger Clements presented the award to Graves as part of the Memorial Day program, praising her for bringing the issue to the forefront.
"There is no question that the men and women who served this great nation understand what the Pledge of Allegiance stands for," he said, and, turning to Graves, he told her, "We commend you for helping us to remember this every day."
For her part, Graves said after the ceremony that she had not expected any such honor for her effort, that she felt it was simply the right thing to do.
"The key is they made a choice," Clements said told the crowd of the importance of her effort and of the students' ultimate decision. "The men and women we honor here today fought so we can have that choice."
