Rain Wipes Out Veterans Day Parade Ceremony Moved to VFW

November 11, 1991

………………………………………….Compiled from Middleboro Gazette :- With the annual Veterans Day parade rained out, speakers stood before a small gathering in the VFW Hall Monday morning. Remarks were impromptu, since the scheduled speaker had stayed home due to the rain.

…………..The message was clear from the remarks offered by those who did speak. We honor the dead more than we respect the living when it comes to veterans.

………….Veterans agent Richard Bagdasarian, a Vietnam veteran, said, “I’m saddened to see such a small crowd, but the Veterans Day parade should be the biggest parade in Middleboro and in this country.”

…………”This is an important day for veterans,” said Disabled American Veterans Commander Francis Creney. “A lot of things are not happening. Support for veterans I important with the VA system deteriorating.

……….He urged local veterans to become more involved through organizations as the DAV, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

………Recalling the wars Americans have fought, American Legion Commander Cliff Hall said another war is being fought today” the war of the veterans.”

………”People of the United States seem to have forgotten the veterans,” he said. “They’re taking away a lot of the benefits we were promised….in the name of saving money. Nobody was worried about saving money when we went to war.”

……….Past Veterans Council Commander August Silvia said Americans should remember those who died in wartime, we must remember those who lived as well.” Silvia also said, “Americans should also remember the prisoners of war and those missing in action.”

………As he spoke, he pointed out two empty chairs covered with POW?MIA banners representing two Middleboro men, William Smith and Hubert Loheed, who are still listed as missing in action.
..................(Compiled by Bob Lessard 2015 from Jane Lopes column)