EASTHAMPTON — The threat of rain didn’t stop hundreds from gathering to see this year’s Memorial Day parade in Easthampton, where everyone from veterans to local baseball teams marched together to honor America’s veterans.

Small groups of people gathered in scattered lines along the parade route, sitting in folding chairs and waving small American flags as they waiting for the festivities to begin.

Leah and Ben Ewing were standing with their kids Bea and Otto along Cottage Street, the sounds of snare drums and flutes echoing off the buildings as the high school marching band practiced just before the parade began moving.

“I’m really excited to see the band,” Leah said, noting that her neighbors were playing in it.

“They’re excited about it,” Ben said of Otto and Bea, who were eager for the candy that parade marchers were soon to toss into the crowd. “It reminds me of when I was a kid.”

Just around the bend on Union Street, Jason Cottrell was sitting with his niece, 7-year-old Alyssa Nelson. They were there to watch Cottrell’s daughter march with the Girl Scouts, and to honor the dead that had fought for the country, Cottrell said.

“I’m excited to see my cousin in the parade,” Nelson said sheepishly.

Joyce Hopkins, 68, has been coming to the Easthampton Memorial Day parade all of her life to show respect to the country’s veterans. She said the city’s parade used to be a lot bigger than it is today.

“Whether it’s big or small, we still come and we still like it,” she said.

The parade got underway at around 10:30 a.m. Among the marchers were veterans and parents pushing strollers, Little League baseball players and the Boy Scouts, and both the middle school and high school marching bands.

Alfred Clay and his son Logan were marching with their church.

“We want to remember those who have fallen fighting for our country,” Clay said.

The rain spared the marchers and onlookers, who managed to stay dry until the first real drops started falling as the group began arriving at the city’s veterans memorial.

There, several hundred residents gathered under umbrellas to commemorate the occasion.

Nico Helems, an aide from state Sen. Don Humason’s office, gave a speech for Humason, who was at another Memorial Day event in Agawam. Mayor Karen Cadieux read a proclamation from Gov. Charlie Baker.

Eventually Mark Subocz, secretary of the city’s Veterans Council, lead the city in the laying of wreaths at the memorials for those residents who died in the country’s many wars.

“A little bit of rain isn’t going to dampen our spirits,” Subocz said, praising the bravery of those fallen soldiers who were being celebrated.

After the wreaths were laid, there was a five-gun salute and the playing of taps.

“They did it to serve America, they did it to serve us,” Subocz said of the fallen veterans. “Let us live up to their sacrifice.”

Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.

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