Bristol Veterans Day ceremonies began early Friday morning with the traditional wreath laying at the War Memorial Garden on Hope Street.

Members of the Bristol Veterans Council layed the wreath before the veterans Honor Roll wall, before Steven Skuba played taps as dozens of veterans saluted their fallen comrades.

The day's ceremony continued later in the morning at the Rhode Island Veterans Home off Metacom Avenue. beginning with an interfaith religious service at 10 a.m., before the main ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

General Rick Baccus, administrator of the Veterans Home will welcomed guests at 11:30, including Gov. Gina Raimondo, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, as well as members of the RI General Assembly and the Bristol Town Council. The keynote address followed, this year delivered by retired Lt. Col. Rene Remillard, who, like many of Friday's speakers, focused on construction of the new Veterans Home, which Rhode Island voters endorsed by approving $27 million more for its construction in Tuesday's election.

Under a tent as a strong wind blew dust from the active construction site on the Veterans Home grounds, Lt. Col. Remillard lauded the improved facility, which will include private rooms for residents, and better conditions for staff members to care for the veterans.

"To move to a private room is a huge thing," said Lt. Col. Remillard, a Korean War veteran who began his military service as a 17-year-old private in the Army, and served as a combat medic with the First Calvary Division, 5th Calvary Black Knights. He noted, however that separating current roommates can have drawbacks.

"Separating them can be traumatic to veterans," he said. "That's something that needs to be considered and is being considered."

Lt. Col. Remillard also spoke of the extreme challenges many veterans face upon returning to the United States and the need for facilities like the Veterans Home to help them.

"We have record numbers of veterans killing themselves. They come home and they don't feel like they're home," he said. "We need to take care of them 365 days a year. Being part of a group is always important, and we have that here."

LTC Remillard knows first-hand the importance of caring for veterans. After the Korean War, he studied nursing, becoming a registered nurse before eating his Master’s degree in health care administration and management. He was commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps in 1972, serving in leadership roles with the 455th General Hospital and the US Army Medical Corps, before working for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, serving as director of Emergency and Aftercare Services.

Other speakers, including Gov. Raimondo, Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rep. Jim Langevin, echoed LTC Remillard's gratitude to Rhode Island voters for approving Question 3 on Election Day.

"Finally, we're going to have a veterans home veterans deserve, where they can age with dignity," Gov. Raimondo said. "We're here because we can never forget - not just on Veterans Day or Memorial Day, but every day. It's time we do more for our veterans."

In doing her part to serve veterans, Gov. Raimondo said she made the director of RI Veterans Affairs a cabinet-level position, advising her directly on veterans issues. Kassim Yarn told the group veterans need to be provided with better education, job placement, quality healthcare and "a network to ensure no veteran falls through the cracks." But it's not just up to the state or federal government to care for them, he said.

"Veterans don't come home to federal agencies. They come home to communities," Mr. Yarn said. "The task falls on all 39 cities and towns. We're tied to the nation's commitment to them when they return."

Mr. Yarn honored veterans of all wars, paying particular attention to those who fought the Vietnam War, who were not welcomed home from the controversial battle with the fanfare veterans of other foreign wars have been.

"To the Vietnam veterans, welcome home," he said to applause. " If I could wrap my arms around all 23,000 of you, I will. If I could be a shoulder for you all to cry on, I will. Our nation did you a disservice all those years ago. I apologize."

Friday’s event ended with another wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a roll call of all American conflicts, beginning with the Revolutionary War, each era of conflict punctuated with a cannon blast by the Bristol Train of Artillery. A rifle salute followed, and a somber rendition of Taps ended the ceremony.