Steve Baptiste picked as Veterans Day Celebration Grand Marshal

Oct 15, 2014

Former paratrooper and retired Wareham Police officer Steve Baptiste will be the Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade and Celebration in Wareham next month.

Baptiste, who owns the Pier View Restaurant in Onset, was announced as the Grand Marshal at Tuesday night's Selectmen meeting by Sharon Boyer, co-chair of the Veterans Council.

"I've got some big shoes to fill," Baptiste said, referring to last year's Grand Marshal, Jim Bruce.

Baptiste was in the military for three years in addition to his time as a paratrooper and was employed by the Wareham Police Department for 19 years, retiring as as a Lieutenant.

The Veterans Council, which Boyer co-chairs along with Bob White, is responsible for the annual Veterans Day Celebration—which includes a parade, a memorial ceremony, and a luncheon for veterans at the Multi-Service Center.

Boyer said the group is still looking for volunteers to help out with the events. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can contact Bob White at 508-274-4963 or at wrcw@verizon.net.

"I've climbed a lot of stairs in my lifetime," said Baptiste. "I'm sure that these stairs that I have to climb on Veterans Day will be climbed."