On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, Maytown will honor and remember veterans with several events. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., a ceremony will be held in Maytown Square, with a prayer led by the Rev. Dr. Ronnette Comfort-Butler from Maytown Reformed United Church of Christ. Members of the Bainbridge Band will provide music, and wreaths will be placed on the veterans' markers in the square. The names of Maytown veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice will be read. The grand marshal, Jeff Armold, and the Poppy Princess, Isabella Love, will be on hand for the square ceremony, which will end with the playing of taps. Armold served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1977. Isabella, the daughter of Dan and Janet Love, is a ninth-grader at Donegal High School.

Following the ceremony, people are invited to participate in the decorating of graves of local veterans with flowers provided by Floral Designs of Mount Joy. Anyone who wants to help should meet at the Maytown Reformed United Church of Christ, 11 E. Elizabeth St., immediately following the ceremony in the square. After decorating graves there, the group will walk to the Lutheran and Union cemeteries at St. John's Lutheran Church, 11 N. Queen St., to decorate graves of veterans at that site.

Additionally, there will be a brick dedication ceremony on the square at 2 p.m. on Memorial Day.

At 4 p.m., the annual Memorial Day parade will step off. Families and groups are invited to compete for prizes by dressing up or decorating to match the theme "Tomorrow, Because of Yesterday."

"In the past, floats have been judged, and the winners were given a monetary prize for first, second or third place," said Janie Garber, chair of the parade committee. "This year, we've added something new. We are encouraging families to march or to decorate their bicycles and ride along with us, and we are giving a new cash award for best of show in this category."

She noted that the Memorial Day parade is a long-standing event in Maytown; a parade has been held to honor veterans since 1902. It is truly a community effort, she stated, adding that the parade relies on support from East Donegal Township residents as well as local organizations, including American Legion Post 809. "This is the first time we have reached out to local businesses for help with the Memorial Day events, and we got an overwhelming response from them being willing to serve as sponsors," Garber noted. "Celebrating Memorial Day is a tradition in Maytown."