Guard to be honored at Loyalty Day parade
Toolbox
Published: May 1, 2009
Vermont service members preparing to deploy to Afghanistan will be honored this year during Rutland's most patriotic annual event.
The 46th annual Loyalty Day parade, established in the 1950s as a response to Soviet May Day parades, will this year recognize members of the Vermont National Guard 86th Brigade which is preparing to deploy overseas.
As always, the popular parade kicks off on the first Sunday of May — May 3. Starting at 2 p.m., more than 1,200 marchers, including marching bands, veterans, color guards, fire departments and political figures including Gov. James Douglas, will march from the corner of Madison Street and Strongs Avenue. The parade route proceeds down Wales Street and then Church Street, crossing on Williams Street to Grove Street and then following Merchants Row to Depot Park where a panel of judges this year will evaluate the marching bands.
13