Stilt walkers dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue marched down Main Street followed by live bands, filling the street with music as the Wareham community came together to celebrate former service members in the second annual Veteran's Day Parade.

The parade was held Monday, Nov. 11 and was put on by the Wareham Veterans Day Organization. The parade saw a number of local organizations, live bands and many veterans all march down Main Street to honor veterans.

The Veterans Day Parade took a six year hiatus before returning in 2023 and Wareham Veterans Day Organization Treasurer Nora Bicki explained they wanted to add something new for this year.

"Most of us on the committee are either veterans or we have family who are veterans and just felt that a parade is a great honor," said Bicki. "We all felt that it was time to restart the parade."

For the first time in the parade's history, Wareham resident and 35 year veteran of the Army National Guard Colleen Marble led the parade, making her the first woman to do so in Wareham.

"It's kind of surreal," said Marble. "I had fun and I was very honored to have been chosen. It was an honor to serve the country and it was an honor to serve in this parade as grand marshall."

Bicki added that although the parade honors veterans, she also wants everyone to understand the sacrifices they make.

"Bringing your family and your friends to come to the parade to honor veterans is such an important part of life today to understand what [veterans] have sacrificed," said Bick.

Wareham resident Robin Maraccini comes from a family of veterans and was at the parade with her husband, son and grandchildren.

"They need to know who helped us be able to have the freedoms we have now," said Maraccini.

President of the Wareham Tigers Cheer Association, Damon Solomon marched in the parade alongside several of the athletes that are a part of his cheerleading program.

"We have a lot of veterans that are volunteers in our program and we wanted to install the values of serving and being there for the community in our athletes," said Solomon. "We want to teach the athletes to respect those who have fought before us because if it wasn't for their sacrifice we wouldn't have the life we have today."

The parade concluded with a ceremony at Centre Park that featured speeches from retired Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Army Matt Stanton, Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside, Commander of the Onset VFW Benjamin Baptiste, Chief Legal Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Executive Director of Community Initiatives and Engagement for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office Min Tram Tram and Wareham High School students Olivia Clarke and Zora Andrews.

"Veterans day isn't just about celebrating military service," said Baptiste, who is a Marine veteran. "It's about remembering what it truly means to serve. It's a commitment, a purpose bigger than oneself. It's the willingness to stand up for ideals like freedom, justice and the protection of loved ones."