The community will come together to mark Memorial Day in Maytown with events happening on Monday, May 26. The festivities will begin with a pancake breakfast served at the Maytown Historical Society museum, 4 W. High St., from 7 to 10 a.m. Food will be available to eat in the backyard of the museum or for takeout.

Creativity and crafts will help raise funds for veterans when the 62nd annual Antiques, Art, Craft and Collectibles Show is held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show will take place in and around Maytown square, located at the intersection of High Street and Maytown Road.

"We have lots to see and lots of places to shop," said Sara Gutshall, a longtime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 809 in Maytown, who is organizing the show. "We'll have at least 40 vendors."

Vendors will sell antiques, jewelry, homemade soaps and other items. Local blacksmith Stan Newcomer will offer demonstrations, and a vendor will sell homemade corn brooms in a variety of sizes.

Food will also be for sale, including breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs and sausage sandwiches, french fries and Colombian sweet treats.

"We have a new food stand this year, which will sell Amish vegetables, canned vegetables, homemade pies and other baked goods," Gutshall said. "We'll also have someone selling eggrolls."

People who attend will also have the opportunity to win a handmade blanket, she shared. Proceeds from the sale of the blanket, which was crocheted by Nila Grose, will benefit a veteran who resides at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

"He is a permanent resident there, and he has no family," Gutshall said. "The auxiliary has adopted him, and we provide clothing, birthday and holiday gifts and other items for him."

Gutshall, 85, has been a member of Auxiliary Unit 809 since she was 10 years old. Honoring people who served and remembering veterans is a passion for her.

Over the years, she has taken an active role in restoring the Maytown square, which features monuments recognizing local service members of various wars. She was instrumental in overseeing the installation of iron archways over the four walkways into the square, and she worked with Newcomer to add lanterns to each archway.

"Boy Scout Troop 53 has been very helpful in keeping the square looking nice," she said. "They have done lots of weeding and have planted flowers."

The auxiliary is selling engraved bricks for the square to honor military members and veterans. Order forms will be available at the craft fair.

At noon, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held in the square to honor those who lost their lives while serving. Wreaths will be laid at the veterans' markers in the square. Following the ceremony, people are invited to decorate the graves of local veterans with flowers provided by Floral Designs of Mount Joy. To participate, people should come to Maytown Reformed United Church of Christ (UCC Church), 11 E. Elizabeth St., immediately following the ceremony at the square. The group will then proceed to the St. John's Lutheran and Union cemeteries at 11 N. Queen St. An ensemble of the Bainbridge Band will play during the decoration.

A parade will step off at 4 p.m. from Legion Park. John and Judy Cook will serve as grand marshals to lead the parade. Veterans are welcome to ride a float or walk in the parade. All parade entrants must preregister with Janie Garber at jgarber416@gmail.com or through Facebook by searching for "Maytown Memorial Day Parade."

A lifelong resident of Maytown, Gutshall said the small community has a rich tradition of patriotism.

"Come out on Memorial Day to celebrate the history of Maytown," she said. "Simon Cameron was the first Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln, and they met at the Maytown square. There is a lot of history here."