Jackson-Silver Post 68 plan exhibit, Memorial Day events

Two events are scheduled later this month at Jackson-Silver Post 68, Locke Mills.

The post commander and auxiliary unit secretary will host the Cpl. Harold A. Lurvey Never Forget WWI Photo Exhibit at the Hall of Flags in the Maine State House from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 22. Rumford-born Lurvey’s scrapbook inspired this exhibit.

Lurvey’s photos tell the story from 1914 to the end of the occupation of Germany in late 1919. As a member of the 26th Yankee (New England) Division, his was the first fully organized division to reach France, though the First Division (The Big Red One), had been organized in France out of an initial set of Regiments first arriving in the American Expeditionary Forces. Lurvey served in both.

Twelve days before the Armistice in 1918, he was transferred into the First Division, with which he remained throughout the occupation which ended in October 1919. He was a charter member of Jackson-Silver Post 68, and in 1951 was a charter member of Mundt-Allen Post 81 in Bethel.

Flagging will take place at Greenwood cemeteries containing veteran graves the week preceding Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. At 9 a.m. Memorial Day, the doors will open at Jackson-Silver Post, 595 Gore Road in Greenwood, and ceremonies will be held in the Great Hall. The Mahoosuc Band will supply the musical selections.

At 11 a.m. hours, Post members will conduct an additional ceremony at the East Bethel Burial Ground. After returning to the Post, it is anticipated that members will attend the Daughters of Union Veterans ceremonies in Woodstock, which traditionally have begun at 1 p.m.