Memorial Day activities in Windham

Memorial Day is special to all Americans and especially meaningful for veterans and their families. In Windham, many activities are planned:

• Saturday, May 21: Windham Veterans Center, noon to 1 p.m., installation of new officers of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643; kick off for signing up new members, free lunch (hot dogs, chips, soda) and music by George Bragg. Open to all veterans, their families and friends.

• Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22: The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will place flags on veterans’ graves in Windham cemeteries beginning the 21st. This work will continue through May 27. If someone finds a veteran’s grave that is not properly marked with a flag after the 27th, contact Dave Tanguay at 892-1306 or dtanguay46@aol.com to have a flag installed.

• Sunday, May 22: The American Legion will place American flags on utility poles in Windham on major roadways. If anyone sees a down or damaged flag, contact an American Legion member to report the damage. Points of contact are Dave Tanguay or Don McCormack at myngame@aol.com.

• Saturday, May 28: American Legion Post 148 will hold a food drive at Wal-Mart on Saturday, May 28 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. A military truck will be filled with nonperishable food items. The Post will also collect canned goods following the parade and ceremony at the high school on Memorial Day.

• Sunday, May 29: Buddy Poppy campaign is the weekend of May 29-30. Veterans will be at Wal-Mart and Lowe’s giving bright red poppies to one and all. Donations received for this effort are restricted for direct veteran support. Today, with our soldiers in harm’s way all over the planet, much support is needed. Give generously.

• Memorial Day, May 30: The parade kicks off at 9:15 a.m. at the Town Office. A memorial service follows at 10 a.m. at the Windham High School and will include reading of the names of fallen veterans over the past year. Ceremonies will be followed by an open house at Windham Veterans Center at noon with refreshments (hamburgers, hotdogs and ice cream) and will include blue flag banner presentations at 1 p.m. A brief military service for Harry Lang in the Memorial garden will conclude the events.

Civil War medicine

A program about medicine in the Civil War will be presented on Monday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road. Following the program, refreshments will be available and a short business meeting will be held. The public is welcome. New members are always welcome. For information on how to join, go to the website, www.windhamhistorical.org or pick up an application at the Society.

Baked bean supper

A public baked bean supper will be held at Windham Hill United Church of Christ on Saturday night, May 21, from 5-6:30 p.m. $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Leaf and brush disposal

Public Works will be open from 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, until 4 p.m. on Monday, June 13 for residents to drop off leaves and brush. Separate your leaves from the brush. There is an area for each and is marked with signs. If you bring leaves bagged up, dump the leaves and take the bags with you. Public Works is on Windham Center Road not far from the library and town hall.

Arts Alliance

The WRPAA meets on Wednesday, June 1, at 6 p.m. in the Athletic Conference room at Windham High School. The group supports the high school performing arts in RSU 14 (Windham and Raymond). The Alliance helps in areas including photography, set building, props, ushering, concessions, raffles and many other events. Entering freshmen who are interested in the performing arts or the technology that is part of it, are invited to attend a meeting and find out more about how to help at Summerfest, fall musicals and more. For more information call Pat Hutchinson, 662-2919 or 831-0116.

Help for veterans

On Wednesday, May 25, from 9 a.m. noon, Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay, will be available to assist veterans, widows of veterans and dependents with questions about benefits and other information, at Windham Veterans Center. She is on hand on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month. If you have questions of a military nature, stop in and get some answers. The Veterans Center is off Route 302, on Memorial Drive, between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s. Follow Memorial Drive all the way to the Veterans Center – to the right of Home Depot – a dirt, town road. No appointment necessary.

Recognition of deceased veterans

On Memorial Day, the American Legion would like to recognize all the veterans who passed away this past year and read their names at the Memorial Day observance at the High School. It would be a great help if readers of this column who know of a late veteran with a Windham connection, or who is buried in Windham, from June 1, 2010 forward, would contact David Tanguay at 892-1306 or via email at dtanguay46@aol.com.

Summerfest ?needs help!

Summerfest is on Saturday, June 18, on High School grounds. The parade committee needs help in planning and organizing. For more information or to lend a hand, contact Brian Ross at Windham Parks and Recreation at 892-1905 or Clarence Wisecup, chair of parade committee, at 892-0299 or at cwisecup@aol.com.

Chicken barbecue

Join the Windham Land Trust on Saturday, June 4, for another wonderful chicken cook-out at Friend’s Church, Route 202, across from the Public Safety Building. Good eating starts at 5 p.m. and will end when the last chicken is served. Tickets are $10.00 each. The dinners consist of half a chicken, homemade potato salad, cole slaw, pie, roll, cranberry sauce and beverage. Eat inside or takeout containers available.

Bingo games ?on Mondays

On Mondays, the doors open at 4 p.m. at Windham Veterans Center for bingo games, held by American Legion Post 128 of Standish. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Games will be held every Monday, except holidays, through Oct. 24. Bingo games pay-out is up to the state maximum of $1,400, depending on attendance. A winner-take-all game as well as pull-tabs and a 50/50 drawing will be offered. Food and beverages provided by the Legion Auxiliary will be sold. Proceeds from the games will go toward the building fund for a future home for Post 128 that currently meets at the Kiwanis building on Route 25 in Standish.

Plants, garden supplies wanted

The Windham Historical Society at 234 Windham Center Road, is holding a plant and garden sale in conjunction with an open house on Saturday, June 4. Donations of seedlings, both vegetable and flower, as well as plant pots and containers, decorative garden “stuff” and tools. Hours for the plant sale will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Open House will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are separating your perennials or thinning out your hosta, lilies and the like, the Society would appreciate contributions for the sale. Call Linda at 655-3421.

Thrift Shop

North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop is open Wednesday and Thursday, 1-3 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. at the church on Route 302 near Boody’s Corner. Bargains for you on a variety of items. Check it out!

Books wanted

Windham Hill UCC is holding a used book and DVD sale on Saturday, June 4 and is looking for donations. No textbooks, please. Gently used hard and soft cover books, DVDs and CDs may be dropped off anytime, downstairs in Fellowship Hall. For more information, call Sylvia Sullivan at 655-3559 or rsssm@maine.rr.com.

Book group meets

The Book Group will meet on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:15 p.m. at the Windham Public Library. The book to be discussed is “The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America” by Erik Larson. Please contact Barbara if you are interested, 892-1908.