NORTHAMPTON — After a hiatus last year, the annual Veterans Day parade came back in full force on Monday morning.
Veterans groups like the Elks Lodge and Soldier On walked from Bridge Street School to Pulaski Park with a parade of supporters, including marchers from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, the Northampton High School band and All Out Adventures.
“The turnout today was substantial — so much larger than in the past,” said Nicholas Grimaldi, the Veterans Council of Northampton secretary. “People were aware we didn’t have it last year. They showed up this year, and we’re happy with the attendance.”
After the parade, well over 100 people gathered in Pulaski Park for a short ceremony that included music from the Northampton High School band, a rifle salute, and remarks from Mayor David Narkewicz. Elected officials including state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, attended.
“For all the veterans out there, thank you for your service,” Grimaldi told the crowd.
The event was a longstanding tradition, but last year organizers said because of declining participation of both marchers and observers, along with aging veterans and a large effort put into organizing the 150th Florence Memorial Day Parade, the Veterans Day parade was put on hold.
“The whole thing comes down to participation,” Brad LeVay, who was the president of the Veterans Council of Northampton at the time, said last fall. “There’s just no one coming out to see us.”
LeVay passed away at 87 in September and was “broken-hearted” when the council voted to halt last year’s parade, according to Gerry Clark, a past council president and current member. “Now I’m sure he is looking down on us saying, ‘I told you so.’ I can feel it.”
People complained when there was no parade last year, said Eugene Tacy, president of the council, and the group decided “immediately” after last Veterans Day to resume the tradition.
But the parade organizers didn’t know how many people would show up on Monday. “We were on pins and needles,” Tacy said. “We were kind of nervous about it.” Clark agreed. “But we knew we had to give it our last shot,” he said.
The parade is an important event, Grimaldi said. “It’s making people aware … aware of the fact that veterans play an important role in our freedom,” he said.
Katie DeSantis-Falvo is one of those who is well aware. “We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them,” she said, talking about veterans while standing on Main Street watching the parade. Attending the parade, added Trudy DeSantis, “It’s the least we could do.” DeSantis-Falvo, a Ware resident, came to support her son, a Smith Voc student in the criminal justice program who marched in the parade.
Peter Hamelin, a Northampton resident, watched with his two kids and their friends as the parade went by Bridge Street School. “We wanted to come and show our support for veterans,” he said as the children waved small American flags. “I wanted to show them why we have the day off of school.”
Will there be a parade next year? “Absolutely,” Tacy said. “After this turnout, we sure will.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.