Virtual Veterans Day celebration’s Grand Marshal announced

Oct 28, 2020

Julio Roderick will serve as the seventh Grand Marshal during the town’s virtual Veterans Day celebration, which is planned for Nov. 11, 2020. 

“It’s just an honor to keep looking out and helping veterans,” Roderick said of his Grand Marshal title. “Make sure they’re not forgotten.”

He said he was a little surprised when he was selected.

“There’s so many people they could pick,” Roderick said.

Roderick served in the Air Force for 22 years, from 1966 to 1988.

“I spent a year in Vietnam, a year in Korea, three years in Germany,” he said. “And then a year in Alaska and then all over the United States.”

Roderick said he enjoyed his time in the service, and after he retired he continued working with the Air Force as a civilian.

“It teaches you leadership, how to get along with others and how to accomplish a mission,” Roderick said.

He has also been involved in Wareham’s veteran community for decades. He has been a member of the VFW for 30 years and been on the Wareham Veterans Council for about eight years, Roderick said.

Roderick served many years on the committee to help select the Grand Marshals, and he said he was “honored to be one” himself.

Roderick was honored with a sash at a small ceremony on Oct. 28, during WCTV’s Wareham Viking News show. Two previous Grand Marshals — Steve Baptiste and Jim Bruce — said a few words during the ceremony.

“Today, we’re honoring Julio Roderick, who I’ve known since he was a baby,” said Baptiste, who was the annual event’s Grand Marshal in 2014. “He’s been contributing to veteran’s affairs throughout the years, and he’s an honor to be the Grand Marshal.”

Bruce, who was the event’s Grand Marshal in 2013, thanked the people working on the Veterans Day event for ensuring people take the time to remember veterans.

During the ceremony, Roderick took the time to recognize his predecessors. 

“I just want to thank the committee for picking me to be the Grand Marshal,” he said. “I’m happy to follow in the footsteps of these two gentleman that I’ve known for many years.”