The town of Charlotte celebrated the 100th birthday of Ruth Eileen (Brown) Sawyer on Saturday, August 28. Approximately 60 people gathered at the Charlotte Fire Station to form a parade that proceeded toward her home on Ayers Junction Road. People were asked to sign a large birthday card while at the station so Sawyer would know who was in the parade.
      The parade was led by the four fire vehicles from the station and two antique vehicles that were followed by over 30 cars and trucks. The fire vehicles all had signs on the side with birthday wishes, as did several of the other automobiles. The fire trucks were driven by George Cross with son in law Matt and grandson Landon O'Brien as passengers, Jeff Orchard with passenger Penney Lurie, Ed Sawyer with passenger John Sawyer, and Jessica Sawyer with passenger Amy McDonald.
      The parade was a surprise. The family told Sawyer they would be having a family birthday celebration for her 100th birthday, along with her grandson Ken Vining of Kittery, who had turned 50 in July, and grandson Colton Sherrard, who attends college in Presque Isle and was turning 20. When everyone heard the sirens from the oncoming fire trucks, the group moved closer to the road to see what was happening. When Sawyer saw the birthday wishes, she was surprised and delighted to see the parade in her honor.
      Ruth Sawyer was born in Charlotte on August 27, 1921, to Lizzie Ruth (James) and Oscar Brown. She married S. Kenneth Sawyer on December 14, 1940, in Calais. They had three children, Milford Cecil, who passed as an infant in 1942; Lana, who passed on July 19, 2021; and Peggy Marie, with whom Ruth resides. Sawyer has been dedicated to her community all of her life. She is a founding member of the Charlotte Baptist Church, the Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue Auxiliary, and she is a member of the Charlotte Historical Society.
      Firefighter Sandra Sawyer was the last person in the parade and stopped to present Ruth Sawyer with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, balloons, a plaque honoring her for her many years of community service, the large birthday card and all the individual cards. Sawyer is loved and was wished a wonderful 100th birthday.
      Since Sawyer's 100th birthday was the day before the parade, many friends and relatives stopped in at her house to wish her a wonderful day. Roger and Elsie Featherson, who reside in Florida, drove to Maine to see her on her birthday. Roger Featherson grew up and lived next door to Sawyer and keeps in touch by telephone. A lifelong friend, Howie Rappaport of Morristown, N.J., planned his vacation to be in the area to help with her celebration. On the evening of her birthday, he invited her and some of her family to a restaurant for a lobster feed. Her cousin, Eileen Clark, came early that morning to bring her two 100th birthday desserts to share with those who might drop in during the day. There were several other friends and relatives who came to see her during her special day.
      It was a wonderful two days of celebrating the life of a person very much loved.