ROCKLAND - Today is Memorial Day and though it will be a chilly one, the sun will shine and allow the many parades and ceremonies to take place. My Memorial Day began yesterday with a breakfast at the American Legion Post 1 in Rockland. There I spoke to veterans, and visited the memorial. The land Winslow Holbrook, Merritt American Legion Post 1 sits on was at one time the post for the Fourth Maine Regiment during the Civil War. The original flag holder that the regiment used is still in place and sits up behind the Veterans Memorial. The post still places a flag there to honor those soldiers from the fourth.

The Fourth Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was assembled in Rockland by May 20, 1861 with Colonel Hiram G. Berry as its commanding officer. He received four Knox County companies, one from Searsport, Winterport, Wiscasset and Damariscotta, and two from Belfast. In all, 1,085 men, including a regimental band, were mustered. Of the 1,440 men that served in the regiment during the war, 170 men were killed in action or died of wounds received in battle. An additional 443 were wounded, 137 men perished of disease, and 40 men expired in Confederate prisons.

One of my favorite speeches concerning Memorial Day was delivered by then President Ronald Reagan. I found it on YouTube.

Gerald Ober served on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation from 1965 to 1967 launching aircraft from the deck.

“I did two tours in Vietnam, but didn’t see land," he said. "At night we could see the fires where we were dropping bombs over Vietnam. I don’t know exactly how many planes and people we lost over Vietnam, there were always a few that either had bullet holes in them, or they didn’t come back.”

On Memorial Day it is customary for the President to lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Maine has its own tomb to an unknown soldier. It lies in the town of Gray.

On Aug. 9, 1862, Lt. Charles Colley of the 10th Maine Volunteers was one of the Union soldiers seriously wounded in the fight. Lt. Colley succumbed to his injuries and died weeks later on Sept. 20.

The War Department contacted the Colley family of Gray and notified them of their son’s death. At that time, families who wanted their loved ones returned had to pay the government for the preparation and shipping costs. The Colley family paid the fees and awaited their son’s return. When the simple pine box arrived, they discovered a fully-uniformed Confederate soldier in place of their son.

Thankfully, Lt. Colley’s body was located and returned to his family. The government, however, could not pay to ship the unknown Confederate soldier back to the south. He was an enemy soldier stuck in the north, without a name and without a home. The Colley’s and the townspeople of Gray opened their hearts and wallets and saw to it that the soldier was given a proper burial in the town cemetery. A stone was erected in his memory. The grave remains there today with a marker simply engraved, "The Stranger." A statue dedicated to the "Unknown Soldier" was later erected in Gray Village Center. Every year on Memorial Day, the Unknown Soldier is respected with a Confederate flag marking the grave. Gray sent more men to war than any other town in Maine. There are more than 178 Union soldiers and one Confederate buried in the Gray Village Cemetery.

Many images of Memorial Day are filled with taps being played and the folding of an American Flag. The flag is folded 13 times and there is a specific reason for each fold. Basically it goes as follows.

1. Bring the striped half up over the blue field.

2. Then fold it in half again.

3. Bring the lower striped corner to the upper edge forming a triangle.

4. Then fold the upper point in to form another triangle. Continue until the entire length of the flag is folded.

5. When you get near the end - nothing but the blue field showing - tuck the

last bit into the other folds to secure it.

Why is a flag folded 13 times? For an explanation of each fold go here:  http://www.winslowholbrookmerrittpost1.org/content.php?id=12

I’ve always felt that Memorial Day should be observed as a worldwide remembrance. Regardless of faith, country and beliefs, it should serve as a day to cease hostilities and pay respect to anyone who gave their life for their country. One day of peace through out the world. At least it’s a start.

Today is the day we honor all those who gave their life in the name of freedom. Through their sacrifices we enjoy the life and country we call home. Memorial Day is supposed to herald the beginning of summer. We’re off to a chilly start, but it should not dampen the reverence of the day or its people.