While residents lined Main Street and Route 6 in celebration, there was a heartfelt and somber message of thanks waiting for those who served at the end of Friday's Veterans Day parade.

“Their courageous commitment, passionate patriotism and devoted duty continues to make a difference and, for that, we salute our veterans on this day,” said Chaplain Major Paul Barnett, a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard.

Barnett, who served as master of ceremonies, introduced veterans Joseph Cappella, past commander of Wareham’s American Legion post, Commander John Roderick of the Dudley L. Brown Veterans of Foreign Wars post and Grand Marshal Dan Minkle, a former Marine.

Minkle is well known as the recently retired Wareham Middle School principal. He spent 30 years at the school as an educator and administrator. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, and in 1977 left the Corps as a staff sergeant, but continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve.

About his time in the service, he said: “Being in the Marine Corps was being in a fraternity, a fraternity of sacrifice.”

Others echoed the idea that with service comes sacrifice.

“I didn’t march in the parade today for myself,” said Willy Roberge of Wareham. “I marched today for all those who never got to come home to a parade, for those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Roberge has served in the U.S. Army Reserves for the past 17 years and spent time stationed in Egypt and Iraq. Roberge said it was heartening to see so many people arrive for the ceremony.

“I’m proud to serve, and I’m proud of everyone who came out today to show their support,” said Roberge.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, held in between Town Hall and the Multi-Service Center.

“From this perspective…I see an extraordinary community that has come together to celebrate this very special day,” said State Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton).

State Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) said the legislature recognized veterans and their service, making efforts to find homeless or near homeless veterans housing through the HOME Act.

“The Veterans Administration is making ending veterans homelessness a top priority,” said Gifford. “We will always continue to look and expand services for those veterans who gave so much.”

In Massachusetts, Gifford noted that there are 368,000 veterans, 26,000 of which are women.

To honor all veterans, the Wareham Veterans Council is working to bring “The Moving Wall,” a half size replica of the Vietnam War Memorial, to town in August.

Roderick, a Vietnam veteran himself, spoke about the importance of remembering those who served, and he encouraged people to visit the wall when it arrives.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of a Veterans Day proclamation from Selectmen Chair Judith Whiteside to Minkle, patriotic songs, a reading of “In Flanders Fields” and a free lunch for all veterans and active military in the Multi-Service Center.

Gifford ended her remarks with a few famous quotes and then some thanks.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them,” said Gifford, quoting John F. Kennedy, before saying: “To all our veterans and their families – thank you, thank you, thank you.”