Vermont Community Thanks Veterans With Parade & Ceremony

A northwestern Vermont group spent this Veterans Day saying thanks to service members. In downtown St. Albans, a ceremony and talking program adopted a parade round Taylor Park.

The observance crossed generations, with one of many nation’s rapidly-declining variety of World Battle II vets there — 97-year-old Bob Coon.

“The proportion is getting decrease yearly,” Coon lamented of his friends who served throughout World Battle II.

Many college students had been additionally in attendance, together with highschool senior Elora Menard. Menard mentioned she hopes to probably turn into a pilot with the Vermont Air Nationwide Guard.

“I actually recognize how individuals have protected me,” Menard mentioned, describing why Veterans Day is vital to her. “Today is essential, however I really feel it needs to be daily that we make some extent of claiming, in a grocery retailer — wherever you see somebody and you realize in the event that they’re a service member — to say ‘thanks,’ as a result of they actually do deserve it.”

That sort of recognition is actually significant to Coon, who parachuted into occupied Europe and fought within the Battle of the Bulge. He mentioned he’s glad to understand how so many younger individuals will keep in mind his era.

“Simply with respect, I hope,” Coon mentioned. “With respect — as we keep in mind the generations earlier than us.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, cheered 2022’s bipartisan PACT Act, which newly prolonged VA well being care and advantages to a number of million veterans who had been uncovered to navy burn pits and different poisonous substances.

“We additionally need to increase veterans’ well being care to incorporate dental care,” Sanders mentioned in response to a query from NECN & NBC10 Boston about his remaining priorities for veterans. “I need to see us strengthen the community-based outreach clinics right here in Vermont and do all the things we are able to to be sure that the VA hospital in White River stays robust.”

Coon mentioned a great way to thank a veteran is to commit ourselves to uplifting our communities, like via volunteering for charities, civic teams, or faculties.