Memorial Day conjures up interesting memories. For some reason I remember Dr Sidney Branson of South Windham, the school doctor, that gave us shots when we were growing up in Windham. A more recent, but still distant memory was of Dr. Branson in his World War II Army uniform as the Grand Marshall of the Memorial Day Parade in Windham.
For the 2025 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 26, the Grand Marshall will be Korean War veteran Don Swander, a longtime supporter of the veterans’ community in Windham and who served for many years as the president of the Windham Veterans Association.
The Memorial Day parade in the past was a town-sponsored celebration of our veterans with dozens of entries from the Windham High School marching band in full uniform to a bevy of antique tractors and other antique vehicles, floats honoring veterans, military vehicles, Shriners with their mini-cars, area team mascots, local and state politicians walking in unity, the town’s Public Works vehicles and Windham Fire Trucks all decorated in Red, White-and Blue banners and flags. Then there were the veterans, some still fitting in their uniforms, others in civilian garb, but all marching proud behind the American Legion colors and Old Glory.
The Memorial Day parade over the past few years has been more modest with maybe two dozen floats and entries. Many previous supporters now have entries in the Summerfest parade and other celebrations.
But the Memorial Day activities, although more modest, still recognize the sacrifice of our fallen Windham veterans with a parade, a ceremony and the placement of flags on the graves in local cemeteries of our departed. We still remember.
There are opportunities for the community to join the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 and the Town of Windham to honor our lost comrades.
On Saturday, May 17 at Arlington Cemetery and Smith Cemetery, local veterans will start at 9 a.m. to place flags on the graves of our veterans. Community groups and the public are welcome to join in this simple remembrance.
Those wishing to join in the Windham Memorial Day parade as a walking unit or with a vehicle or float may do so by contacting the parade coordinator at 207-892-1306. The parade will depart at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26 leaving from the Windham Town Hall, continuing down School Street, turning south onto Gray Road and ending at the Windham High School’s lower parking lot.
Following the parade there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Flagpole and Town’s Veteran Memorial with this year’s guest speaker, Lee Humiston, the funder and curator to the Maine Military Museum in South Portland. During the ceremony there will be the traditional tolling of the bell for each of the Windham veterans who have passed this year followed by a ceremonial burning of the flags removed from the veteran’s graves and a wreath ceremony, rifle salute and taps.
At noon, at the Windham Veterans Center there will be a ceremony in the Memorial Garden to dedicate a granite bench in memory of our beloved Korean War veteran, Walter Braley, who passed last year. Following the dedication there will be the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and rifle salute. The community is welcome at an open house and picnic luncheon at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham, sponsored by the Legion Family.
Please join the American Legion as we honor our town’s heroes at one or more of the scheduled Memorial Day events this year. <