Vergennes welcomes thousands for Memorial Day celebrations

"If you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."

"If you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."

AND A NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ALONG CONSTITUTION AVENUE. CITIES...TOWNS AND VILLAGES. ACROSS THE REGION. HOLDING MEMORIAL DAY PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS. TODAY... THOUSANDS IN TOWN FOR a nearly 75 year tradition IN VERGENNES. NBC5'S CAROLYN SISTRAND takes us there. FOR 74 YEARS... PEOPLE FROM ACROSS VERMONT HAVE FOR 74 YEARS... PEOPLE FROM ACROSS VERMONT HAVE LINED THE STREETS IN VERGENNES. <MARTHA DEGRAAF/PARADE COORDINATOR: "OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER."> TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR OUR COUNTRY. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR FOR THIS TINY VERMONT TOWN. NEARLY QUADRUPLING IN SIZE FOR THE DAY. <CAROL MAPEL/VERGENNES: "WE DECIDED TO PUT OUR CHAIRS HERE BECAUSE WE CAN WATCH IT COME OUT."> CAROL MAPEL'S FAVORITE PART ARE THE SCHOOL BANDS. SHE MISSED THE MUSIC MOST WHEN THE PANDEMIC CANCELLED THIS TRADITION IN 2020 AND 2021. <CAROL MAPEL/VERGENNES: "IT WAS REALLY SAD... PEOPLE COULDN'T GET TOGETHER, AND THEY NEED THIS COMRADERY."> PARADE FLOATS... TAKING ON ALL DIFFERENT MEANINGS. <COMMANDANT DANIEL BEAN/DONALD COOK DETACHMENT: "THIS IS A MIC BOAT IT WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE TROOPS COULD BE TAKEN TO THE BEACH AND NOT HAVE TO FALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT TO THE COMMUNITY. <COMMANDANT DANIEL BEAN/DONALD COOK DETACHMENT: "LIKE ALL THINGS IN HISTORY, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER YOUR HISTORY, YOU'LL PROBABLY END UP REPEATING IT."> COMMANDANT DANIEL BEAN FROM BURLINGTON'S DONALD COOK DETACHMENT. SAYS IT'S OKAY TO CELEBRATE LIVES LOST ON MEMORIAL DAY. TO KNOW WHY THEY HAD TO FIGHT... AND WHAT THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR. <COMMANDANT DANIEL BEAN/DONALD COOK DETACHMENT: "IT'S REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'VE GAINED... FROM THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US."> AT THE END OF THE PARADE. THE RETURN OF THIS CEREMONY. <MARTHA DEGRAAF/PARADE COORDINATOR: "IT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE, A PUZZLE PIECE, BECAUSE THAT TRULY HONORS THE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY."> THE DAY'S FINAL TRIBUTE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANKS FOR THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. ORGANIZERS SAY THE PARADE IS ALMOST AS BIG AS IT WAS PRE- PANDEMIC. THEY SAY THERE ARENT AS MANY BANDS WALKING THE ROUTE AS THERE USED TO BE. BUT THEYRE HOPEFUL THA

Vergennes welcomes thousands for Memorial Day celebrations

"If you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."

The city of Vergennes welcomes more than quadruple their population into town on Monday for the 74th Memorial Day Parade and celebrations. Dozens of families, organizations, schools, and groups participated with their own floats or just marched along the parade route. "It pulls everybody together," Martha DeGraaf, the parade coordinator, said. "Our whole community comes together, and we honor those who have fallen."The parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it's close, it's not as big as it used to be. DeGraaf said there are fewer bands making the trip to participate but they hope to see more sign up next year.Burlington's Marine Corps League Donald Cook Detachment came with its own float. They said celebrating Memorial Day is important to keep alive the memories of those who have fallen and why they fought. "It's really an example of what we've gained from the efforts of those who went before us," Commandant Daniel Bean said. "Like all things in history, if you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."The parade was followed by a ceremony in the heart of the city's downtown.

VERGENNES, Vt. —

The city of Vergennes welcomes more than quadruple their population into town on Monday for the 74th Memorial Day Parade and celebrations.

Dozens of families, organizations, schools, and groups participated with their own floats or just marched along the parade route.

"It pulls everybody together," Martha DeGraaf, the parade coordinator, said. "Our whole community comes together, and we honor those who have fallen."

The parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it's close, it's not as big as it used to be. DeGraaf said there are fewer bands making the trip to participate but they hope to see more sign up next year.

Burlington's Marine Corps League Donald Cook Detachment came with its own float. They said celebrating Memorial Day is important to keep alive the memories of those who have fallen and why they fought.

"It's really an example of what we've gained from the efforts of those who went before us," Commandant Daniel Bean said. "Like all things in history, if you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."

The parade was followed by a ceremony in the heart of the city's downtown.

Vergennes welcomes thousands for Memorial Day celebrations

"If you don't remember your history, you'll probably end up repeating it."

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