Memorial Day weekend starts on Sunday, May 27, with a worship service at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor at 10 a.m.

All veterans and active duty personnel are urged to attend. They are asked to gather at 9:45 a.m. in order to make a united entrance. Post 36 Vice Commander Frank Helman and his wife, Martha Helman, will lead the service.

The final weekend activity will be the Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 28. All area veterans and active service members are urged to join in the parades, even if only doing it in one area. Also, all area residents and visitors are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day parade services.

Monday's Memorial Day events will begin near the Newagen post office. The parade will be forming shortly before the opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.

The order of service will be clergy comment/prayers, wreath placement, firing squad, taps, hymn or National anthem. This program will be followed in all visited areas.

Parade units will disband, travel, re-form and march to West Southport monument for the next service at approximately 9 a.m.

Near, or about, 9:30 a.m. units will assemble on West Street in Boothbay Harbor. At 9:45 a.m. the pare will march down Oak Street and turn to the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library monument for a service.

The march will then proceed via Boothbay House Hill Road to the Waterfront Park to hold a ceremony for those lost at sea. The parade will then continue to Townsend Avenue where buses will be waiting for loading and transporting participants to the south end of the Boothbay Common.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., the assembled units will march around the Common to the Civil War monument for a service. The parade participants will then move out, pass in front of the Boothbay Town Office, return to the buses and travel to East Boothbay.

The parade will re-form and proceed at 11 a.m. down the hill from Murray Hill Road to the East Boothbay memorial monument where the last service will be held. It will then move out and break rank beyond the East Boothbay post office.

Area residents and visitors are reminded that times are flexible and parade viewers should arrive early so they won't be disappointed if, by chance, the parade is ahead of schedule.

The line-up of the parade participants will start with the Marshal, followed by the United States Coast Guard Color Guard, the Boothbay Fire Department Color Guard, the Boothbay Region Alumni Community Band, the United States Marine Firing Squad, veterans, POW/MIA float, Gold Start mothers, cars with veterans, the Boothbay Region Elementary School Band, and the Cub and Girl Scouts.

Area ministers who will give short Memorial Day addresses and prayers will be The Reverend Robert Plaisted in Newagen and West Southport, Pastor Carol Stevens at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, The Reverend Susan Colburn at the Waterfront Park, The Reverend Dan McNutt at Boothbay and the Reverend Lisa Burger at East Boothbay.

There will be a breakfast for the Marine firing squad and their guests at the American Legion Post #36 hall in Boothbay, on Industrial Park Road, prior to the parade.

After the parade, there will be refreshments at Legion Post #36 for veterans and parade participants. Auxiliary members and wives of Legionnaires have been asked to donate items. In fact, donations from any "generous soul" will be appreciated.

"Call off" time, in case of inclement weather, is 7:30 a.m. The bands will be notified first, followed by the veterans and marchers.

All individuals and businesses are encouraged to fly their flags for the Memorial Day weekend. Remember, the flags are to at half-mast until Monday noon.