LEWISTON — An exceptionally strong wind blew straight off the Great Falls on Saturday morning, but it failed to discourage a large crowd of veterans and their families attending the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston.

Several hundred spectators lined the sidewalks for the parade, which formed at Kennedy Park and proceeded along Lisbon Street, across Longley Bridge, around Great Falls Plaza in Auburn and back to the park in Lewiston.

Activities at the park were a special occasion for about two dozen members of the Kane family. They came from as far away as California and Oklahoma to witness the unveiling of a new commemorative stone. Four members of that family are among the 216 names of past and present military personnel inscribed on the monument. This stone is the 27th now in place at the park at the Lewiston end of Longley Bridge.

The four Kane family servicemen are James Kane Sr., a member of the cavalry in World War II; James Kane Jr., U.S. Air Force; Bernard L. Kane, Air Force, whose 26 years of military service took him to Japan, the Philippines, the Aleutian Islands and Spain; and William Kane, Air Force.

Sisters Tracy Kane McLain and Patricia Kane Cavero coordinated the effort to list their relatives’ names on the monument. Other kin of the Kane servicemen came to the ceremonies from the Gorham and Scarborough area.

Another highlight at the circle of memorial stones was the dedication of a granite bench in remembrance of Jerry Der Boghosian of Lewiston, a well-known and longtime advocate for veterans. Der Boghosian died last year at the ago of 91. He was aboard the USS Canberra in World War II when it was seriously damaged by a Japanese torpedo. Member organizations of the Lewiston & Auburn Veterans Council paid for the memorial bench.

This year’s granite monument joined the other 5-foot-tall, double-sided stones dedicated to various military services. The latest addition has at its top an emblem of the Seabees, the U.S. Navy’s construction and combat-capable division. A history of the Seabees was given by Capt. Deb Couture, who is a Seabee.

Jerry DeWitt, chairman of L&A Veterans Council, was master of ceremonies at the park. Representatives of U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin delivered messages.

Gerard Dennison of Auburn, constituent service representative for King, noted the military service of two L-A men whose stories touched him on this Memorial Day weekend.

Dennison paid tribute to a 1966 classmate at Edward Little High School. He was Pfc. Albert L. Belanger. He entered the U.S. Army in July 1969, and less than two months later was killed in combat in South Vietnam at the age of 21.

The other serviceman honored by Dennison was Walter McAloon, born in 1918, parents unknown. He probably spent his boyhood at Healy Asylum orphanage in Lewiston, Dennison said. McAloon entered the U.S. Army, advanced to the rank of second lieutenant and was wounded in North Africa. He died of his wounds at the age of 25. There were no known relatives and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, “Section 8, Site 6170.”

The Veterans Memorial Park ceremonies included remarks by Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald and Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte.

Several patriotic musical numbers were performed by the Just Us entertainers. This vocal ensemble has supported L&A Veterans Council activities for more than 20 years.

A Maine Civil Air Patrol flyover also took place. Pilot was Dan Leclair, CAP northeast region commander. Co-pilot was CAP Maj. Warren King, and observer was CAP Maj. Mary Story.

A wreath-laying ceremony, a three-cannon salute and the playing of taps by Roger Renaud concluded the program.

Parade units included Franco-American War Veterans Post 31 of Lewiston; the Highlanders bagpipe band of Kora Shrine Temple; Honor Flight Maine featuring several classic autos; Lunn Hunnewell Amvets Post 6 of New Gloucester; American Legion Auxiliary; Wreaths Across America; the 100-plus marching musicians of combined area high school bands known as ROAR of the Androscoggin; Boy Scout Troop 121 of Auburn; Girl Scout Troop 314 of Lisbon; and Lewiston High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC.

Among the specialized vehicles in the parade were the Vets Center truck; American Red Cross blood donor van; the Salvation Army emergency canteen truck; Lewiston Fire Department Engine 7 and Auburn Fire Department Engine 5.

Former Rumford soldier’s family to participate in national concert

LEWISTON — Rumford native Sgt. 1st Class Shawn C. Dostie was killed in Iraq on Dec. 30, 2006, while serving with the U.S. Army.

On Sunday, May 24, his family will be special guests at the National Memorial Day Concert. The concert, which is being held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will be broadcast live on Maine PBS starting at 8 p.m.

The program will be hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Montegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise for the 10th year. According to PBS, this concert has been one of its highest-rated programs for the past 25 years.

Bayleigh Dostie was 5 years old and Cameron Dostie was 8 when their father was killed. According to the Leaf-Chronicle, a daily newspaper in Clarksville, Tenn., the teens now both attend Fort Campbell High School in Clarksville and, along with other Gold Star Children from the Clarksville area, talked to documentarian Mitty Griffis Mirrer about the loss of their father.

According to the Leaf-Chronicle, Sunday’s concert will include a documentary play about children who have lost their parents to war, and actors will portray Bayleigh and Cameron, telling memories of their father and sharing personal stories with the audience.

Dostie, who was born in Rumford and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1991, was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky at the time of his death.

His wife, Stephanie Dostie, told the Leaf-Chronicle that she hopes the documentary performance will help people better understand how children try to cope with the loss of a parent. She said she is proud to have had an opportunity to share the story of her family’s struggle and sacrifice.

Shawn Dostie was a career soldier whose awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Multinational Forces Observer Medal and Global War on Terror Service Medal. In addition, Sgt. 1st Class Dostie earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Drill Sergeant’s Badge, Parachutist Badge (U.S., Belgium and British), Air Assault Badge and Pathfinder Badge.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife and children; his mother and father, Robert and Delaine Campbell Fugere of Lewiston; a sister, Crystal Desrosiers and her husband, Lucien, of Poland; and other relatives, including paternal grandfather Harvey Fugere of Auburn, a number of aunts and an uncle in Rumford, Lewiston, Gardiner, Windham and Mechanic Falls.

Dostie is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.