There was a full house at the Burleigh H. Loveitt Council Chambers for the Veterans Day ceremony on November 12. The attendees were greeted with flags and smiles from the Gorham Girl Scouts who later led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. The ceremony began with a fanfare with Paul Viarello on bagpipes.

After a welcome by Baxter Memorial Library Director James Rathbun, and opening remarks by Town Councilor Ron Shepard, GoCat director Georgia Humphrey introduced two short films.

The first film highlighted the role of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), and featured a conversation with Blanche Kelley, MSG-WAC Retired, who presently lives in the Portland area. She was honored many times during her years in the service for her ability to recruit women into joining the WACs.

The second film featured James Hughes, 2nd Battalion, 7th regiment, 1st Marine division, who fought in Korea at the beginning of the war. He spoke of his experiences of winter combat when he was in Northern Korea. He related his experiences with not only the enemy, but also the effects of freezing temperatures during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. After a musical salute to each of the armed services honoring those who served in the army, navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard, Paul Viarello played a beautiful trumpet rendition of Taps to end the ceremony.