A solemn, respectful occasion...

Tue, 05/28/2013 - 2:00pm

Holly S. Edwards

Camden Hills Regional High School band member Aaron Nolan plays taps while Ray Lewis, of American Legion Post 30, prepares to lay a wreath at the Honor Roll on Camden's village green during Monday morning's Memorial Day Parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Memorial Day parade enters downtown Camden May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The color guard leads the parade into Camden Memorial Day, May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden Police Sgt. Pat Polky, also a master sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard, during a pause in Monday's Memorial Day parade at the honor roll. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Eric Verite of the Maine Air National Guard and Air Force in the color guard in Camden's Memorial Day parade May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Lincolnville Selectman Rosey Gerry, left, served in the U.S. Air Force and is the new commander of American Legion Post 30 in Camden. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Ray Lewis places a wreath on Camden's Honor Roll during Monday's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Marching in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Members of the Camden Hills Regional High School band march in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Grants march in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Veterans and antique cars in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

A tenant above Camden Custom Embroidery has a unique vantage point of Monday's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Memorial Day parade makes it way up Elm Street in downtown Camden, following a stop at adjacent Harbor Park. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden First Aid's Julia Libby. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

It wouldn't be a Midcoast parade without the Lincolnville Band. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Jory Squibb, known locally as the inventor of micro car 'Moonbeam,' drives electric-assist quadricycle 'Sunbeam' in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Lenny Gronros and his "Kitt" car. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden Engine 4. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

CHRHS band member Aaron Nolan plays taps during Camden's Memorial Day parade.

Camden dedicated the 2013 Town Report to longtime Camden Fire Department member Harold Drinkwater, who rode in his namesake, Engine 4, during the parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Memorial Day parade enters downtown Camden May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The color guard leads the parade into Camden Memorial Day, May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden Police Sgt. Pat Polky, also a master sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard, during a pause in Monday's Memorial Day parade at the honor roll. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Eric Verite of the Maine Air National Guard and Air Force in the color guard in Camden's Memorial Day parade May 27. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Lincolnville Selectman Rosey Gerry, left, served in the U.S. Air Force and is the new commander of American Legion Post 30 in Camden. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Ray Lewis places a wreath on Camden's Honor Roll during Monday's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Marching in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Members of the Camden Hills Regional High School band march in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Grants march in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Veterans and antique cars in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

A tenant above Camden Custom Embroidery has a unique vantage point of Monday's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

The Memorial Day parade makes it way up Elm Street in downtown Camden, following a stop at adjacent Harbor Park. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden First Aid's Julia Libby. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

It wouldn't be a Midcoast parade without the Lincolnville Band. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Jory Squibb, known locally as the inventor of micro car 'Moonbeam,' drives electric-assist quadricycle 'Sunbeam' in Camden's Memorial Day parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Lenny Gronros and his "Kitt" car. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

Camden Engine 4. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

CHRHS band member Aaron Nolan plays taps during Camden's Memorial Day parade.

Camden dedicated the 2013 Town Report to longtime Camden Fire Department member Harold Drinkwater, who rode in his namesake, Engine 4, during the parade. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

CAMDEN — Residents and visitors alike lined the streets of downtown Camden Monday morning, May 27, for the annual Memorial Day parade. Camden Police Sgt. Patrick Polky, also a master sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard who has served overseas, led the parade with a cruiser's blue lights flashing as the color guard and representatives from various branches of the military marched along.

Accompanied by patriotic music, courtesy of the Camden Hills Regional High School band, Ray Lewis of American Legion Post 30 led the group as they made stops at the Conway Boulder at the corner of Elm and Union streets, the Honor Roll at the Village Green and at the Civil War and Spanish-American War monuments at Harbor Park.

Placing a wreath at each stop, the parade continued up Mountain Street (Route 52) to Mt. View Cemetery for a final ceremony honoring those who served the country in the military and have since died.

In addition to the color guard and band, veterans rode in antique cars, there was a bright orange tractor and the Lincolnville Band, as well as Camden's fleet of fire engines and Camden First Aid Association's ambulances and emergency vehicles. On foot, there were representatives from the Lions Club, P.A.W.S., Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and Camden Little League players and coaches, among others.

Camden's parade was preceded by a ceremony at the Public Landing, where flowers were placed in the harbor. The harbor ceremony also included an honor guard rifle salute and the CHRHS band performing the Navy hymn, as well as taps.

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Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.