Community members were greeted by local Girl Scouts waving flags as they entered the Municipal Center for this year’s Veterans Day ceremony. Maddie Rossignol, a Gorham High School senior sang the National Anthem, followed by Town Councilor Ben Hartwell leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

After welcoming the audience, Library Director, James Rathbun introduced the World War I video presentation entitled, In the Trenches with the Doughboys, which was written, edited, and produced by Georgia Humphrey, GoCat Station Manager.

The keynote speaker was Libby Bischof, Associate Professor of History at the University of Southern Maine. Bischof shared a brief history of the observance of Veterans Day, which was known as Armistice Day until 1953 when it was changed, in order to celebrate all veterans from all past and present military service. She focused on the many monuments to veterans of World War I, especially Gorham’s which is located on the corner of South St. and Green St. It was dedicated in 1936 as part of the Gorham Bi-Centennial celebration. She spoke of the importance of monuments to help us remember the past and think about the people who made what we currently have possible.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of “Taps” by Georgia Humphrey and a thank you to all in attendance.