Maine has chosen its design for its bicentennial flag. After holding an online vote between three designs, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap unveiled the winning design Friday last week. The flag is comprised of a field of blue representing the sky; lighter blue across the bottom representing water, be that river, pond or ocean; and a pine tree moved off center to make the viewer feel like they are inside the forest, looking out. The shape of the pine tree is based on the tree featured in the Maine Merchant and Marine flag in the 1930s. The original design of the flag featured a plain white star, but Secretary Dunlap replaced that star with the Dirigo Star from the State Seal. The original design was submitted by Portland Resident Jeff Van West. The decision incorporates input from more than 6,500 people who participated in an online survey of three different designs. With 59 percent of the votes, survey respondents expressed preference for the design that depicts a variation on Maine’s State flag of 1901.

The flag design to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Maine’s formation as a State still needs to be approved by the Bicentennial Commission before it formally becomes the flag of the event.

 

Members of American Legion Post 46 of Conway will hold their annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Conway Veterans Honor Roll outside of the Kennett Middle School with a rifle salute and taps.

The Lovell/Fryeburg VFW Post 6783 will start their memorial day commemorations in Lovell Village at 11am at the Memorial Monument at Lovell Veterans Park next to the Library on Route 5. Members will then travel to Fryeburg to assemble at the Legion Hall on Bradley Street for a 1:00 parade. All are welcome.

The VFW and American Legion Post 95 will be holding a procession in Bartlett village today at 11:30 from near the ball field to Fred Hodgkins Veterans Park at the Josiah Bartlett Elementary School. Also in Bartlett, a luncheon will be served by the Francis P. Murphy VFW 5386 Post auxiliary to veterans and their immediate families. A general public luncheon will happen at the Bartlett Congregational Church at 11:30.

Ossipee’s Memorial Day observances will be at the town hall in Center Ossipee starting at 10 this morning. Following that, refreshments will be available in the town hall and there will be a display of Memorial Day photo mosaics created by the students of Ossipee Central School.

Mindful Memorial Day is happening in Tamworth Village today from 10:00 until noon. The seated meditation, walking meditation, and yoga event is sponsored by the Tamworth Veterans Committee to honor the fallen. It will feature refreshments, yellow ribbons, meditation instruction, a flag raising, and yoga at the Tamworth Townhouse afterwards. For more information call (603) 323-2348.

Jackson Town Offices are closed today in observance of Memorial Day. A small parade will also be held in Jackson Village starting at 9:30 at J-Town Deli and ending at the Jackson Village Cemetery.

Moultonborough’s town offices and transfer station are closed in observance of Memorial Day. Moultonborough’s Parade will be happening at 10am from Blake Road to the Moultonborough Town Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

Maine is looking towards celebrating its 200th anniversary as a State and is currently conducting a survey to determine what flag will be used to celebrate this upcoming anniversary. Vote on your favorite of the three designs by clicking here.