NEW GLOUCESTER — Gold Star mother Gwen Jordan laid a memorial wreath at the Veterans Park during a Memorial Day service Monday.

Several hundred people gathered in the AMVETs Post 6 hall where Past Commander Willie Danforth led a solemn ceremony to remember veterans of all wars.

“It is a duty to serve and protect our freedom in this part of the world,” he said. The men and women who serve pay a price to protect our freedom, he said, “and it is not free.”

Among the veterans attending were Cecile Burgoyne of Auburn and Les Taylor of Gray. Both served in the Korean War. Taylor wore a jacket festooned with ribbons and badges and embroidered with words noting his service as a past commander of the Department of Maine AMVETS.

Also attending were New Gloucester residents Bill Kiley, who served in the Korean War, and Phil Vampatella, who was a Navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War and earned the Navy Cross for his superb airmanship and outstanding courage in 1966.

Kiley served as petty officer on the USS Canberra. He is also past commander of AMVETS Post 6. This year’s annual town report is dedicated to him for his years of service to the community.

The bands of Gray-New Gloucester Middle and High schools played for the Memorial Day tribute, which was held inside because of inclement weather.

The re-enactment group, the 15th Alabama Company G, fired muskets during the outdoor ceremony. The original 15th Alabama Company G fought in the Civil War battle at Little Round Top against Joshua Chamberlain’s 20th Maine Regiment.