A Veterans Day commemoration was held in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
Paul Gagne of Barre Town attends a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
People watch a parade on North Main Street during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
The Spaulding High School Band plays “The Star-Spangled Banner” during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
World War II veterans Jim Hoy, left, and Winton “Bucky” Walbridge, center, are greeted by Chuck Barney of the Barre Area Veterans Council during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
A color guard stands during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
A parade proceeds down North Main Street during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
People recite The Pledge of Allegiance during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
Soldiers salute as buglers play “Taps” at the end of a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger 
A color guard parades down North Main Street during a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
BARRE — Melvin McKnight, commander of the American Legion Post 10, had to think about what Veterans Day means to him as someone who served for 30 years.
“Every day is Veterans Day for veterans,” McKnight said in an interview on Thursday. He later reiterated the message to the crowd gathered for Barre’s annual Veterans Day parade.
The annual day of remembrance on Nov. 11 is for the other 90% of Americans who “need to be reminded that there are veterans who need help,” McKnight said.
Local veterans from World War II to present day attended the annual parade, which made its way down North Main Street to the 1920’s war memorial, “Youth Triumphant,” in Barre’s City Hall Park.
Speakers noted that this year’s ceremony marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, laid in Arlington National Cemetery after World War I ended in 1921. Since then it has been the final resting place of all the unknown veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Some veteran families were upset that the Barre Unified Union School District did not cancel classes for Veterans Day, according to mychamplainvalley.com. But Superintendent Chris Hennessey on Friday told VTDigger they’ve had school on Veterans Day for 18 of the last 20 years.
The high school and middle school marching bands participated in the parade as usual, but it was unclear whether other members of the school community were in attendance. A phone message left for Hennessey on Thursday was not returned.
On Thursday, he said it meant a lot to see the flag when he returned from deployment. The flag reminds him of home, Barney said.
Barney, who led the event, said he fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, trained in Macedonia and helped with the recoveries for Katrina and Irene as part of his 23 years in the National Guard.
The ceremony included speeches from veterans, the reading of a letter from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as a word from Mayor Lucas Herring.
While most speakers focused solely on those who have served, Vietnam veteran Ronald Tallman said he believes “each one of us can defend freedom,” by voting and speaking out against injustices.
Herring said veterans are “one of the groups affected the most by homelessness,” in his speech.
Herring also celebrated the success of the seventh annual Granite City 5k Run/Walk for Veterans that was held on Saturday.
Correction: The Barre Unified Union School District schools have been open on Veterans Day for 18 years. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that this was the first year they stayed open on Veterans Day.
