In Augusta, there was a small but heartfelt wreath-laying ceremony at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery to honor Maine's fallen veterans.
Despite the sunny weather, only about two dozen people attended.
"How [will] we honor our fallen 50 years from now?" asked Adjutant Gen. Diane Dunn of the Maine National Guard in remarks to the group. "Will these resting places continue to be cared for? Will there be regular visitors? Will flags continue to be placed?”
In Maine and around the country, the lack of interest in Memorial Day events is reflected in parades being canceled and overall participation dwindling. Some veterans groups attribute the declining interest to a disconnect with military service because many Americans are no longer personally familiar with someone who is serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard or Marines.
Instead, surveys show that most people spend the day with family and friends relaxing, firing up the backyard barbecue and ushering in the arrival of summer.
Dunn emphasized the importance of continuing Memorial Day ceremonies as a way to keep memories alive of those who bravely defended the country.
“A debt is owed to fallen heroes that can never be fully repaid,” she said. “Their memories live on by sharing their stories, remembering their names and honoring their sacrifice.”
At the Augusta ceremony, families of veterans who have passed were also recognized.
"As we pay tribute to the fallen, we also thank the families who endure the separation, the anxiety and all too often, the grief that are part of freedom's price," said Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a statement read by a member of her staff. Collins attended and spoke at a separate Memorial Day ceremony in Lincoln.
In a statement read by a member of his staff, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden implored those in attendance to take extra care with the families of those who have lost loved ones.
“To everyone here, I ask you to not only keep those grieving Americans close to your heart today, but to go the extra mile and be there whenever they need 365 days a year,” he said.
“They were ordinary men and women Americans who became extraordinary through their selfless actions,” Dunn said. “Their sacrifice was the ultimate act of love for our country.”
