George, Barbara Bush’s absence noted at Memorial Day parade

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine – Maine’s Memorial Day celebrations are absent a prominent veteran who died last year.

The American Legion has two empty chairs in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square on Monday in memory of all of the times former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara watched the Memorial Day parade from that spot.

Mark Matthews from American Legion Post 159 said organizers wanted to acknowledge the absence of Bush, a long-time summer resident and a Navy veteran. He missed last year’s parade after falling ill after attending an American Legion pancake breakfast earlier in the weekend.

He died at age 94 on Nov. 30, months after his wife’s death.

Kennebunkport Town Manager Laurie Smith said the Bushes’ absence is felt every day. She said it will be a “strange” summer without their presence.