JAY — Local veterans organizations and their auxiliaries will hold wreath-laying ceremonies Monday at several war memorials in observance of Memorial Day.

“We are changing the order of memorials to maximize time and accommodate other days activities,” Jay VFW Post 3335 Commander Ricky Merrill said. “We still have to limit which memorials we perform honors at as we just don’t have enough veteran members participating anymore to hit all area locations.”

The schedule this year is:

7 a.m. Leeds War Memorial, Route 106 and Church Hill Road.

7:35 a.m. Fayette War Memorial, Route 17, 2589 Main Street.

8:05 a.m. Livermore Falls Union Park, corner of Park and Unions streets.

8:25 a.m. Jay War Memorial, Chisolm Square, Route 4 and Jewel Street.

8:40 a.m. Livermore Falls Memorial Bridge, Route 4.

9:05 a.m. Livermore Brettuns War Memorial, Route 4/Federal Road and Church Street.

“Times are approximate and could vary slightly based on travel and traffic delays while traveling to each memorial location,” VFW Judge Advocate Jim Manter said. “We will begin promptly at each location when the honors teams arrive, so we ask the community and public to please be patient and flexible in our timing and schedule.”

VFW Post 3335 in Jay, AMVETS Post 33 in Jay, American Legion Post 10 in Livermore Falls, and their auxiliaries will participate.

The ceremony at each location will include a color guard, wreath-laying, prayers and a gun salute.

All veterans, public service departments, and community members are welcome to attend.

The same people participating in the honors teams are also preparing for the annual chicken barbeque, and resources need to be shared, Manter said.

The VFW will hold its traditional chicken barbeque at 1 p.m. “The menu will be a huge half chicken, and includes macaroni salad, chips and a homemade cookie,” post Quartermaster Dave Lachapelle said. “Again this year, this BBQ is huge in our fundraising efforts, and traditionally is our largest benefit of the year. “Our success on this one event sets the tone for our ability to support various scholarships and donations to local citizens and community members.”

“We also are going to add a touch of wood roasting for unique flavoring from the traditional BBQ pit. It will be superb,”  Manter, who recently won a veterans barbecue competition in Kansas City, said. Cost is $12.

“Our team is extremely proud of being able to keep the cost down and procure enough chicken for the annual BBQ, with all the supply chain challenges, but our supply is limited,” he said.

Dinner patrons are asked to bring a nonperishable food to support VFW’s community outreach to assist local food pantries. “We hope to initiate this to support our food-challenged veterans and community members,” Manter added.

Indoor dining will be offered by reservation only when orders are placed.

Meals must be preordered by Friday by calling 897-2122.

Flags adorn the front of Regional School Unit 73 administrative office on Cedar Street in Livermore Falls on Sunday. From now through June 1, George Bunten American Legion Post 10 in Livermore Falls invites people to have a flag placed in honor or remembrance of a veteran for display at Veteran’s Hill for a donation. Submitted photo

Veteran’s Memorial Hill of Flags

From now through Thursday, George Bunten American Legion Post 10 in Livermore Falls invites people to have a flag placed for a donation in honor or remembrance of a veteran on Veteran’s Hill in front of Regional School Unit 73 administrative offices on Cedar Street in Livermore Falls.

The flags were placed on Veteran’s Hill on Sunday by Commander Jocelyn Mosher-Collins, her daughters Zoe and Annabelle Collins, and Joseph Foss.

To have a flag placed, send a check payable to George Bunten Post 10, 17 Reynolds Ave., Livermore Falls, ME 04254. Include a note indicating the veteran’s name and if it is in honor or memory of the person.

Donations are accepted throughout the year to help support community activities and post renovation projects.

Flags can be picked up, if desired, Saturday, June 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the post.

“This is another opportunity for our local community to remember and honor a veteran,” Mosher-Collins said.

For more information call Mosher-Collins at 207-779-7345 or email Post10.George.Bunten@gmail.com.