Woolwich marked Memorial Day with its 121th Service of Remembrance Monday evening, May 27, with First Baptist Church on Middle Road hosting the event.

At 7 p.m., Rev. Tom Tuck, pastor of First Baptist Church, welcomed guests gathered in the sanctuary with a short prayer of thanks to the countless men and women who have died or shed blood serving in our country’s armed forces. Following a hymn, Rev. David Ouellette of North Woolwich Methodist Church gave a scripture reading from Galatians 5:13-25. Memorial Day, he said, was a time to reflect on the “purpose of freedom” and the awesome responsibilities that come with this freedom in the way we choose to live our lives.

A highlight of the evening was when Rev. Tuck asked those military veterans present to stand and introduce themselves. They included Blaine Soule, a U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard ships in the North Atlantic and the Carribbean Sea from 1969 to 1973, Gary Smith, who traveled to over 50 countries as a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 2016, Alton Richardson, who served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1973 and whose tour of duty included being stationed in Germany, and Rev. Tuck, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1983 to 2003. Although not present, also recognized was Charles Presby, 97, believed to be Woolwich’s last surviving World War II veteran.

Debbie Locke, a past president of Woolwich Historical Society, thanked First Baptist Church of Woolwich for hosting the program. She said donations given during the free will offering would be divided between Woolwich’s flag fund for decorating veterans’ graves, and the MidCoast Veterans Council at Brunswick Landing; the Council provides help to all veterans.

The program included Blaine Soule’s fine solo singing performance of "God Bless the U.S.A.,” written and sung originally by country music artist Lee Greenwood.

Rev. Tuck shared some of his thoughts on Memorial Day and on the song “Mansions of the Lord,” which had been sung earlier in the program. The song was adapted from “We Were Soldiers,” a popular 2002 Mel Gibson movie. “Sometimes it becomes necessary to take up arms to defend our freedoms ... We need to wage peace not war by spreading the word of the Gospel,” Tuck said. After he concluded the service, a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful” was sung by Roxanne M.L. Althouse accompanied by her husband, Dr. Paul Althouse on the piano. The Althouses are members of Day’s Ferry Congregational Church. Earlier, Roxanne Althouse sang a beautiful rendition of “Mansions of the Lord.”

The program concluded with Rev. Ouellette giving the benediction. He reminded everyone, as far as world history is concerned, freedom and democracy – the principals America was founded on – remain relatively new ideas. They need nurturing for this “Great Experiment” to continue, he said.

Next year’s Service of Remembrance will be hosted by Woolwich-Wiscasset Baptist Church on Route One.