Forty-seven years after her brother died in the Vietnam War, Louise Conway Quintin reminded those gathered at Marion’s Memorial Day services to honor the fallen.

“I look at all the veterans here today and want to thank them from the bottom of my heart,” Quintin said. “It’s on days like today that we band together and remember that some gave everything.”

The Fairhaven resident attended to watch her grandchildren march and perform with the Sippican School band. Quintin spoke during the Benjamin D. Cushing Post 2452 Veterans of Foreign Wars annual observance.

Parade Committee Chairman and post member Rodney Hunt had invited anyone from the public to share what Memorial Day means to him or her in front of the Town House.

Quintin stepped forward to say that her only brother, John James Conway, died March 17, 1967 in Vietnam.

Hunt spoke about being grateful for the sacrifices made on the nation’s behalf at the first remembrance held at the Civil War monument in front of the Music Hall.

“There’s a lot of turmoil in the world, but we’re still free here in the United States,” Hunt said.

Old Rochester Regional High School freshman Sara Achorn then sang “God Bless America” and junior student Ian Maclellan recited the Gettysburg Address. Post members laid wreaths and flowers at the monument.

Veterans, Selectmen, the Sippican School Band, Scouts and the Portuguese American Band marched from the Music Hall to the Town House and then to Old Landing Cemetery. The parade ended at Old Landing Park. At each location, post members remembered the fallen.

Hunt offered thanks to everyone who assisted, including members of the town’s police and fire departments, the Boy Scouts, the Washburn family and Zora’s.

Girl Scout Troop 81177 received special thanks and a donation from post members. On Saturday, the Scouts helped veterans place American flags and flowers on graves throughout town.

“They came out like a swarm of bees,” Hunt said. “We couldn’t have done all of that without them.”