VERGENNES, Vt. -
From public school bands to politicians, over 90 floats and participants paraded around Vergennes Monday.
The annual Memorial Day parade has been marching on for at least 57 years. That's how long Bob Barrows has been selling balloons on behalf of the Lions Club. "I meet a lot of people and see a lot of kids. I sell balloons now. Some of their kids grew up and had kids, so I'm selling balloons to their grand kids," he said.
A massive crowd turned out to enjoy the big parade in the state's smallest city. One visitor, Barbara Hibbetts, traveled from South Burlington. "This is a really, it's an exciting day. The parade is fabulous, but it's also Memorial Day the way Memorial Day really truly should be remembered," she said.
That's because after the pomp and circumstance of the parade winded down, there was also a somber salute to the fallen.
"As I've said in years past. We honor them. We praise them and we remember them," said Vergennes Mayor Michael Daniels.
Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than three dozen service members with Vermont ties have made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Today is a day, above everything else, is a day that we promise not to forget the sacrifice made by so many," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt).
But keynote speaker, and longtime Vergennes resident, Dr. Donald Bicknell, said not to just honor servicemen and women, but to work for peace. "We can put flowers on their graves, say prayers for them, but on reflection I think the best way to thank these real heroes is for each of us to work for peace in whatever capacity we can," he said.
A day of celebration for our freedoms and for our fallen heroes.
