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Veterans Day Parade Canceled In Massachusetts City

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts city has canceled its nearly century-old Veterans Day parade this year because of a dwindling number of spectators and participants.

Steven Connor, director of Central Hampshire Veterans' Services, says he's been helping organize the Northampton parade for 14 years, and estimates that participation has decreased by about half in recent years.

VFW Post 8006 Commander Tom Pease says World War II and Korean War veterans are just too old to march these says.

City Veterans Council President Brad LeVay says younger veterans are not interested in marching.

The parade began as a way to welcome soldiers returning from World War I.

There will still be a ceremony and an annual breakfast Sunday to mark the day, and organizers say they may bring the parade back in the future.

(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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