Gorham’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 31 at 11:00 a.m., a welcome sign of a return to normal. Everyone is encouraged to participate, either as spectators or as part of the parade.

Cindy Hazleton, Director of the Gorham Recreation Department, said, “We invite neighborhoods, churches, businesses, service clubs, and sports clubs to join in the parade this year.” In order to register, call the Rec. Dept. at 222-1630. “Give us a description of what your parade unit consists of: walkers, bicycles, floats, antique cars/trucks/tractors, business trucks, et cetera, as it helps us coordinate the line-up for the parade,” she added.

So dust off that old convertible stored in the garage, polish ‘er up and come cruise down Main Street. Get the grandkids to help decorate your golf cart and enter that. Rather watch a parade than be in it? Decorate the lawn chair or wear a big a hat and blow bubbles or whistles or wave flags all along the route. Come celebrate this opportunity to return to normal and to make a joyful noise for those who have served and sacrificed for us all.

While the out-of-doors mask mandate has been lifted, the Recreation Department wants to remind everyone that it is important to be respectful of the folks around you by maintaining some social distance between family groups along the parade route as well as at the closing ceremony.

The parade will begin at Lincoln Street turning north onto South Street then east onto Main Street and finally turning onto Johnson Road culminating at Eastern Cemetery. People are encouraged to head to the cemetery after the parade has passed by to attend the closing ceremony.

VFW Gorham Memorial Post 10879 will hold a memorial service with guest speaker Colonel Stu Pettis at the Eastern Cemetery Monument to honor fallen veterans immediately following the parade. Attendees are asked to enter via the Main Street entrance to assist traffic flow.