Therapy horse part of Veterans Day festivities in Lewiston

Nov. 9—LEWISTON — The annual Veterans Day observance Saturday morning will feature a new visitor — a therapy horse named Hercules from the Saco-based Horses Over America organization.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street along the banks of the Androscoggin River.

The therapy horse, used to ease mental health issues with people of all ages, visits schools and veterans homes in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Hercules is coming to the Twin Cities at an opportune time — two and a half weeks after a mass shooting Oct. 25 that killed 18 and wounded 13.

Hercules is a Friesian gelding who stands 17.3-hands high, or roughly 70 inches.

Gerry Scott, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves who founded Horses Over America, will conduct the riderless horse ceremony with Hercules.

Scott is scheduled to give the keynote address.

The ceremony will also feature the unveiling of the 34th memorial stone marker with the names of area veterans who served from every branch of the military.

The Kora Shrine band will perform, and the Shriners' Legion of Honor will also participate during the ceremony.

L&A Veterans Council Chairman Jerry DeWitt said a school bell will be in place to allow people to ring it for peace.

Other groups expected to attend are veterans organizations, the Lewiston High School Air Force Junior ROTC, the Boy Scouts and Gold Star Mothers.

Politicians or their representatives are also expected to speak during the ceremony.

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