City replaces Veterans Day parade with ceremony

ATTLEBORO, Mass.—The Veterans Day parade has been a part of life in Attleboro since November 1918, when the armistice ending World War I took effect.

But in a sign of the times, the city is doing away with the annual tradition because of a lack of money. Instead, veterans will be honored with a ceremony.

This past May, the city also scrapped one of its two Memorial Day parades.

“We decided to get more bang for the buck by combining all three parades into one and conducting a ceremony for Veterans Day,“ Attleboro Veterans Agent Peter Rego said.

Local officials said the weather also played a role in doing away with the Veterans Day parade. The brisk November air is often too much for older veterans.

“Mother Nature is kind of brutal on us in November: cold, sometimes windy. The last Veterans Day ceremony ... if I remember correctly, it was close 30 degrees plus a little wind chill, also,“ Rego said.

The Veterans Day ceremony will take place at Capron Park at the Veterans Memorial Triangle. But some residents said a ceremony in the park is not enough and that the Veterans Day parade should march on.

“I think they should still find funds for it. My dad just passed away in May and he was a World War II vet. I think he would be happy if it still went on,“ said Joan Sylvia of Attleboro.

Other people said they’re not surprised by the move.

“Everything seems to be cutbacks all over. So, I’m not surprised. If they have to do it, they have to do it,“ said Lisa Grega, of Attleboro.

The Veterans Day ceremony will take place Nov. 11. Local officials said it’s in the testing stage and that it’s not out of the question that the parade might return one day.