WMWV – 93.5

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.

For many Americans, Memorial Day weekend entails grilling out, having beach parties and beginning the summer vacation season, but for many it is a seldom reminder of the sacrifices of the men and women that have served the armed forces. We remember these men and women by decorating their graves with wreaths, holding parades in their honor and rendering military customs and courtesies. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Kirby Turbak)

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.

The Tin Mountain Conservation Center will be holding its 21^st Annual Meeting and Field day this Saturday at the Nature Learning Center in Albany. They’re starting the day with four different morning field trips. Birder and Tin Mountain Trustee Will Broussard will be leading a Birding Trip to the Brownfield Bog at 7am. That group meets at the gas station on Route 5 in Brownfield. The three other trips start at the Nature Learning Center. Redlining the Rockwell Sanctuary starts at 8am with Lori Kinsey and Dexter Harding; a Wildflower Walk starts at 10am with Matt Maloney; and an Insect Exploration for Kids starts at 10am with Phaedra Demers. The annual Awards and Meeting begin at 11:30am and at 1:00 the Keynote speaker, Dr. Alan Eaton, will give a presentation on Beneficial Insects and Where to Find Them.

White Mountain Waldorf School will be holding their Mayfair this Saturday from 10-1 at the North Conway Community Center. The community is invited to this event where the youngest children will dance in a circle, wrapping ribbons of all colors around the maypole. Heather Burnell of the White Mountain Waldorf School says that the once-agricultural celebration now celebrates the stronger healthier connections we have as a community. She says the entwined ribbons symbolize our connections with each other. Children will also perform music, demonstrate sword dances, and play games while AmeriGas provides grilled food for this family-friendly event.

Kids Bike Safety Day is this coming Saturday at Storyland in Glen. The annual event will be happening from 10-2 and will involve lessons on bike safety as well as mechanical checks and minor adjustments to bikes; helmet safety checks with free helmets to those who need them; refreshments and giveaways. The event is geared towards kids from 5-11 years old and requires they wear appropriate footwear. Kids Bike Safety Day is a free event, but donations to the Mt. Washington Valley Bicycling Club would be appreciated. The Mt. Washington Valley Trails Association will also be there with a table with information on the MWV Rec Path and Phase 1 of the project.