Memorial Day is coming!

    Memorial Day will be celebrated next weekend, and there is a lot of flurry around cemeteries all over the state of Maine to place flags at the graves of Veterans.

                                            PATTI THERIAULT PLACE FLAGS AT THE 

GRAND TRUNK CEMETERY VETERANS MEMORIAL

     Today, four of us gathered at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery to remember  nine men  who lived in the area once referred to as Back Cove,  later  Westbrook,  still later the village of East Deering, then, all part of Massachusetts.  Maine would not become an independent state until 1820. 

     Only one, served in the Civil War who had originated from Rhode Island.   Most began their service in the militia for the defence of the Port of Portland.  Some would be attached to units that supported the colonial army during the Revolutionary War. 

    All of those we remember today,  lived through their various millitary engagements and came home to their farms or ships and lived useful lives until their deaths.  Over the last eleven years, it has been our custom to gather to spruce up the burial site, to lay flags and set out wreaths, and to read aloud the names of our deceased Veterans so that they will not be forgotten,  I invite you to do the same:

SERVED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

ENSIGN CRISPUS GRAVES, 1742 - 1818

PRIVATE JOHN SAWYER JR., 1760 - 1842

PRIVATE JOSEPH LUNT, 1757 - 1804

PRIVATE SIMON DAVIS, 1765 - 1810

SERVED IN THE WAR OF 1812

PRIVATE JOHN SAWYER JR., 1760 - 1842

PRIVATE WILLIAM SAWYER, 1763 - 1825

PRIVATE JOSEPH MERRILL, 1754 - 1823

PRIVATE FRANCIS SMITH, 1791 - 1840

PRIVATE ANDREW GRAVES, 1774 - 1860

PRIVATE JOSEPH MERRILL SAWYER, 1795 - 18755

PRIVATE WILLIAM BLAKE, 1774 - 1853

SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES CIVIL WAR

PRIVATE JAMES MOSELEY, 1836 - 1892

       The two  women who came to rake the small gardens and place flags for our Veterans are Lynda Allshouse and Patti Theriault,  Readers may remember them as the  mothers of the two former Girl Scouts whose project brought life back to the once pretty much demolished and abandoned cemetery.  Lynda and Patti always come to help out when they are able, thus continuing the legacy of service begun by their daughters, nearly twelve years ago.  We are most grateful!

    Here are some photos from today!

LYNDA AND JOEL PLACE A WREATH

Lynda Allshouse

Patti Theriault

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY