VERGENNES, Vt. (WCAX) – This marked the 76th year of the Vergennes Memorial Day parade, which is not only a day of fanfare and fun but also a reminder that when it comes to service members, all gave some and some gave all.
Main Street in Vergennes was crowded on this sunny Memorial Day morning.
“I’ll tell you what, here in Vergennes, this is the biggest Memorial Day parade basically anywhere,” said Spencer Norton, a Navy veteran.
“Memorial Day is about honoring those who have fought and fallen so that we can be free. And we really try to get that across,” said Martha Degraaf, the chair of the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade.
The parade’s theme this year was “All gave some and some gave all,” a reminder to all of what the day is really about.
“Celebrating the fallen soldiers,” said Lexie Paradis of Shoreham.
Before the parade, we caught up with 10-year-old Jamison Fisk. He wanted to enter the parade in honor of his grandfather, a veteran who died a few years ago.
“I think we should all celebrate because if they didn’t do what they did, we wouldn’t have what we have today, ” Fisk said.
The parade was Vergennes’ biggest since the pandemic. It featured marching bands, tractors, politicians and, of course, kids throwing candy and spraying water cannons.
Along the parade route, Jackie Terry took the theme to heart by creating a display honoring fallen soldiers in her front yard.
“I tried very much to just show the respect I feel for these people who deserve so much more than we give them,” Terry said.
Organizers say they want those involved in the parade to have fun but always keep the real reason behind Memorial Day in mind.
“It’s not just barbecues and parties and the beginning of summer, although it does kick off summer,” Degraaf said. “It’s also, you know, a time of remembrance and reflection.”