100th anniversary: Scouts honor veterans at annual parade
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By THATCHER MOATS Staff Writer - Published: November 8, 2009
BARRE – Hundreds of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, veterans and their family members from around the state flocked to downtown Barre on Saturday and paraded down Main Street to say thank you to the men and women who have donned military uniforms and served the United States of America.
The "Scouting Salute to Veterans Parade," as it is officially known, has been held in various Vermont towns over the last 11 years. But this year the parade honoring veterans seemed particularly poignant: The Boy Scouts are celebrating their 100th anniversary; the first Boy Scout troop in the country was founded in Barre in 1909; the military is grieving after a recent massacre at Fort Hood; and 1,500 Vermont National Guard troops are in the process of deploying to Afghanistan, where an eight-year-old war rages on.
The parade, which began at the Barre Auditorium, was lead by Gov. James Douglas, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, State Auditor Tom Salmon and others.
Boy Scouts from troops around the state — including Rutland, Ryegate, Barre and Middlesex – comprised the bulk of the parade. Wearing their uniforms, they marched with flags and banners that signified their troop, along with American and Vermont flags.
Musicians from Barre public schools and American Legions posts filled the air with patriotic songs, including "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Loud musket fire from Civil War re-enactors marching in the parade periodically sent jolts through the crowds that lined the streets.
After coming down Auditorium Hill, the parade took a left on Main Street and traveled under a gigantic American flag suspended above the street from a wire hung between downtown buildings.
The parade ended with a ceremony at City Hall Park where politicians spoke to the people gathered in the city streets that had been closed to traffic.
John Tracy, who was representing Sen. Patrick Leahy's office, presented to Barre City an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol.
As the flag was hoisted up a flag pole, an opera singer performed a booming rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."
In his remarks, Tracy gave a nod to the Vermont soldiers who are deploying to Afghanistan.
"I know all Vermonters will remember them in their thoughts and prayers," he said.
Douglas began by acknowledging the people affected by the tragic shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, that left 13 dead.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them all through this very difficult time," Douglas said.
Douglas pointed out that Americans are lucky to live in a free and democratic society that is envied around the world, but said it has not been achieved "without the dearest sacrifice." And remembering the people who made those sacrifices is important, he said. To highlight his point, Douglas quoted Vermonter and former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, who said: "The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."
The parade was sponsored by the Green Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the president of the council, Dick Kruger, pointed out that the reason it makes sense for the Boy Scouts to honor veterans is that the youth organization and the military have some similar philosophies.
"The values we teach are very consistent with duty to God and country," Kruger said after the ceremony.
The Boy Scouts also teach leadership and citizenship, both of which are important in the military, he said.
Barre Mayor Thomas Lauzon addressed the crowd and recalled fondly his memories of being a Boy Scout and told those assembled to ignore anyone who says the values the scouts teach are not "cool."
"I speak directly to all of the scouts here today when I tell you that anyone who tells you that scouting isn't cool or the values they teach you aren't cool is simply someone who lacks the courage to acknowledge God's greatness, lacks the conviction to appreciate and love this country, and lacks the strength and compassion to serve others," Lauzon said.
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