HAMPTON — Hamptons' American Legion Post #35 will be conducting Memorial Day exercises in three area towns on Monday, May 26. In view of the recent war in Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the ongoing War on Terrorism, it is hoped that all residents of the three towns will attend at least one or all of the services, and pay tribute to those veterans who gave the supreme sacrifice for their country.

Also, the members of Post #35 want to extend a personal invitation to all Veterans (men and women), to come and march with the group. You do not have to be a member of the Legion to march, you only have to be a Veteran. Please come and march with your fellow veterans.

Beginning at 8 a.m., there will be a service at the New Hampshire Marine Memorial ("The Lady by the Sea" statue) on Ocean Boulevard, across from the Ashworth-By-The-Sea, at Hampton Beach.

Following this service, there will be a ceremony in Hampton Falls at Weare's Common beginning at 9 a.m. At 10:15 a.m. there will be a Memorial Day parade in North Hampton beginning in the parking lot of the Citizens Bank on Lafayette Road and continuing up Atlantic Avenue to the town's public library for the ceremony.

In Hampton, the parade will begin at 11:15 a.m. in the town parking lot behind the Fire Station #2 and the District Court House on Winnacunnet Road, and will travel west along Winnacunnet Road to Lafayette Road, north to High Street, and east to the High Street Cemetery, where the Memorial Day program will be held in the Memorial section at the flag pole. (Half-staff flags should be raised to full-staff at 12 noon.)

Memorial Day addresses will be given in each town by Lt. Col. Philip W. Bean, USMC. Lt. Col. Bean is a New Hampshire native and a graduate of Winnacunnet High School and the University of New Hampshire. He also served in the US Coast Guard from 1977-1983. Lt. Col. Bean joined the Marine Corps in 1983-present, having recently been promoted to his current rank. Mr. Bean is also the principal at Bean Insurance Agency in Hampton.

Commander of American Legion Post #35, Ralph G. Fatello, will be the ceremonial emcee at all three towns. Any group wishing to participate in these Memorial Day activities is asked to contact Joe Kutt at 964-6152.

Also taking place on Monday, May 26, from 12-2 p.m. will be a musical performance at the Dearborn Park, located off Post Road on Exeter Road in North Hampton. Free refreshments will be served by members of American Legion Post #35. All are cordially invited to attend this affair, and be sure to bring lawn chairs.