The Warwick Veterans Council put all they could into this year’s Memorial Day parade.

That hasn’t always been the case. In years past the council has relied too heavily on the pull of patriotism and love of country to get out marchers and spectators. And it once worked. Groups from across the state sought to participate, and the council had little difficulty filling the ranks of multiple divisions. There were high school bands, units from the National Guard and Reserves, veterans associations, color guards from police and fire and, naturally, veterans and the Gold Star Mothers. The parades became so much more including Boy and Girl Scouts, youths from dance and karate schools, classic cars, big trucks, fire apparatus and police motorcycles.

For whatever the reasons, in recent years the council has found it increasingly difficult to rally participants. There was a year where the only marching high school band was from Johnston. With a decline in parade participants came a drop in spectators. The parade was a shadow of what it had once been.

The Veterans Council has worked to turn that around. This year it started early, met often and publicized the parade. It lined up a cross section of participants and planned for a speaking program at the memorial in front of Vets High.

After such planning and devoted effort, we understand the reluctance with which the decision was made to cancel the parade because of Monday morning’s downpour. Nonetheless, one group from Fall River with a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier showed up. The rain hadn’t stopped them and one of their leaders, a retired Marine, made it clear rain couldn’t dampen his patriotism. Flags representing different branches of the service were positioned around the float as they are at the actual tomb. Members of the Veterans Council and a few people who had caught view of the display and people gathered with umbrellas joined to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, listen to the national anthem, and learn about the tomb.

It wasn’t what the council had planned. It wasn’t easy, but cancellation of the parade was the correct move. Yet, still, it wasn’t a washout. Our veterans were honored.