News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, veterans are seen participating in the Veterans Day parade that began at McRae Park in Alpena and ended at Alpena City Hall. A ceremony was had at Alpena City Hall to commemorate the holiday.

ALPENA — Veterans, law enforcement, first responders, and community partners gathered at city hall in Alpena to pay tribute to those who have served and are serving in the United States military.

Matthew Carlisle, a retired Marine, led a ceremony held at Alpena City Hall in Alpena to commemorate Veterans Day following a parade that began at McRae Park and ended at Alpena City Hall.

During the ceremony, Carlisle, and other members of the Alpena veteran community, took time to acknowledge the significance of the federal holiday and to acknowledge past and present military members.

The parade began at 11:11 a.m. as tribute to the date of Veteran’s Day each year.

“After the Great War, humble Americans have gathered together on Nov. 11 to thank and pay tribute to all those who answered the call of duty from our great nations so that others could live free,” Carlisle said.

Joe Demski, commander of the Disabled American Veterans Alpena chapter, took time during the ceremony to make a distinction between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

“While Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day, the two observances serve different purposes and have different histories,” Demski said.

Demski explained that Memorial Day, which has roots to the post-Civil-War era, memorialized all those who have died in war. Veterans Day, first known as Armistice Day, is a celebration of the resolutions of World War I that occurred 11 minutes past 11 o’clock on Nov. 11, 1918.

“So we, as then, salute surviving service members, as well as those who have passed away since their service,” Demski added.

Major General Burt Francisco was supposed to participate in the ceremony as a guest speaker but was unable to because of a family emergency.

Carlisle stated that at other veteran related events, Francisco has spoken of themes such as the history of Veterans Day and the purpose of the observance.

“He would talk about who it’s for, that this is for all veterans, whether you served for a day or you served till you retired,” Carlisle said.

He stated that the significance of Veterans Day reminds people to thank those who have served the United States in times of war and in times of peace.

“Or whether you did two years and learned a skill and came back to your little city of Alpena and moved on with your life,” Carlisle added. “Those are the great things about this holiday.”

According to Carlisle, Veterans Day is one of 11 federal holidays in the United States. He explained that there are approximately 16 million American citizens who currently serve in the military. He stated that service members in 1990 made up 18% of the population but has since dropped to about 5% as of 2022.

“The least amount we’ve ever had,” Carlisle added.

Mayor Cindy Johnson also attended the ceremony and gave a proclamation designating the City of Alpena a Purple Heart City.

Johnson stated that the designation encourages Alpena residents and businesses to show appreciation for Purple Heart recipients and the sacrifices “recipients have made in defending our freedoms, to acknowledge their courage, and to show them the honor and support they have earned.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.