Everybody loves a parade
This past Memorial Day here in Vermont marked the occasion for parades, celebrations and commemorations. Apparently there were big turnouts at parades in Vergennes, Essex and Underhill. I had friends visiting from Boston and we stayed at my rental on the Maquam Shore west of St. Albans. To our delight, on the way out of town Monday morning, we noticed folks lining up along the main drag in downtown St. Albans about 10:30. Since I had seen no posters or signage announcing any parade in town that week, and the street wasn’t closed off, I was surprised and confused. We pulled over at the park and skipped over to watch.
What unfolded was the saddest parade I’ve ever seen
Up and down the street were maybe 100 people and kids shuffling around, waiting. Finally a police pace car came into view and first of maybe 5 clusters of vets ambled down the street, flags waving and enjoying the meager clapping from onlookers. Immediately following was a local high school band, all decked out in their green uniforms (a nice change from the tie-dye crap they and every other band wore at the Maple Festival parade). The time the band took passing by was about half of the rest of the parade marchers. Wrapping up this woeful march was a fire truck and closing cop. That’s it.
A grand total of 15 minutes of patriotic embarrassment passed for that little town and its lack of marketing for the parade, and especially for those participating in it. I couldn’t help but feel so unappreciative of our vets and the purpose of Memorial Day itself.
Where was the marketing for this (albeit) brief event?
It was a beautiful day and I know the shore camps were packed with people. Maybe there was a big ol ad in the local 8-page newspaper – does anyone buy that anymore? Regardless, it was a shame and inexplicable. My friend just looked at me and asked, “What did you see in this town?!” Past-tense as I have since moved on to Burlington after nearly dying of boredom in St. A.
HOW COULD THIS ATTENDANCE TRAGEDY HAVE BEEN EASILY AND/OR CHEAPLY AVOIDED?
It really is that easy. Come on St. A – let’s give our vets and service people the respect and gratitude they more than deserve.
