Whitman's Veterans Officer Proposes Ending Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade in Favor of Formal Ceremony and Luncheon
WHITMAN - September 9 - Veterans Service Officer Declan Ware announced to the Whitman Select Board that Abington no longer wants to participate in the traditional tri-town Veterans Day parade, prompting him to recommend replacing the 70-year tradition with a formal ceremony and luncheon for veterans on Saturday, November 8.
The Full Story
Ware explained that after reaching out to the other participating towns in late August, Abington's Veterans Service Officer Adam Gunn expressed no interest in continuing the parade. "My honest recommendation is that we shift going forward in the future where I'm proposing a, instead of the parade, we do like a formal ceremony into a luncheon sort of event for the veterans," Ware told the board.
The proposed event would include a formal color guard representing all branches of the armed forces, remarks from community members, and a cake cutting ceremony featuring military branch insignias. Ware said he chose Saturday, November 8 to maximize attendance, noting that younger veterans might be working on the actual Veterans Day holiday.
Board members expressed general support for the concept, with member Laura Howe noting that a luncheon might be more comfortable for aging veterans who have difficulty walking in parades. "I think this would give them more a feeling of the true respect we all do have," she said.
However, Selectman Shawn Kain urged caution, requesting formal polling of veterans before abandoning the parade tradition. "I would hate to get rid of a parade that some people really look forward to or, like, really value," he said. The board asked Ware to confirm Rockland's position before the next meeting in two weeks, as that town's Veterans Service Officer had not responded to communications.
The meeting also featured the swearing-in of two new police officers, Aidan Cafferty and Derek McCartney, who graduated from the 78th Regional Officer Candidate program at Plymouth Police Academy. Police Chief Tim Hanlon noted both officers are currently undergoing field training.
The board recognized retiring crossing guard Mary "Izzy" Cocchi, who served 11 years protecting schoolchildren at the busy Route 18 and Route 27 intersection. Chief Hanlon praised her dedication, noting she had called in a car crash earlier that day despite being retired.
Member Shawn Kain provided updates on the town's fiscal situation, reporting that the Board of Assessors released $225,000 in one-time funds to help with budget pressures. However, he noted that efforts to restructure the Plymouth County retirement liability through special legislation appear unlikely in the short term.
The board also approved several committee appointments, including Jeffrey Sargis to the Planning Board on a term ending at the May election to fill an existing vacancy, John Galvin to the Economic Development Committee as member at large, and Heidi Hosmer as the Board of Assessors representative to Economic Development.
In old business, the board took no action following a dog hearing case from August 19. The officers found that the dog owner had installed multiple gates and containment systems to prevent future escapes.
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter reported on the municipal electricity aggregation program launching in October, with a locked-in rate of just over 14 cents per kilowatt-hour for 50 months, below National Grid's current rate of over 15 cents.
Why It Matters
The potential end of the tri-town Veterans Day parade would mark the conclusion of a 70-year tradition, though Ware's proposed alternative aims to better serve the community's aging veteran population. The change reflects broader municipal budget constraints affecting community events, as neighboring towns scale back participation in joint activities.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Appoint Jeffrey Sargis to Planning Board vacancy. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:27:03)
Motion: Take no action on dog hearing determination. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:38:15)
Motion: Appoint Tim Travers as associate member to Board of Appeals through June 30, 2027. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:39:13)
Motion: Appoint John Galvin as member at large to Economic Development Committee through June 30, 2027. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:39:55)
Motion: Appoint Heidi Hosmer as Board of Assessors representative to Economic Development Committee through June 30, 2028. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:40:49)
Motion: Accept resignation of Richard Rosen from Economic Development Committee effective August 20, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:41:05)
Motion: Enter executive session for real property discussions and executive session minutes review. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:05:56)
Public Comment
Julianna Dunn from the Cultural Council requested town funding for additional police officers at Whitman Day 2026, citing crowds of 2,000-3,000 people and liability concerns. The board expressed budget constraint concerns but agreed to explore options.
What's Next
Veterans Service Officer Ware will confirm Rockland's position on the Veterans Day parade and provide an update at the next meeting. The Cultural Council will work with police to determine costs for additional security at Whitman Day. Planning continues for the municipal electricity aggregation program launch on October 1.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.