BRATTLEBORO — The “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee thanks everyone involved in the success of the town's 39th annual Independence Day celebration.
The all-volunteer group, working with the town Recreation & Parks Department, was able to present its parade downtown and free concerts and fireworks at Living Memorial Park only because of the generosity of countless individuals and companies that donated their time, money and talent, including:
- Grand Marshal Deirdre Baker, who has demonstrated not only how to overcome cancer while organizing the town's annual free Christmas breakfast but also how to defy the odds of meteorologists who forecast a day of severe thunderstorms.
- More than 50 other parade entries, including the Brattleboro American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands, veterans, firefighters, community and youth groups, and our perennial finale personality, Alfred Hughes Jr.
- Logistical leaders Chris Dugan and Art Greenbaum; parade coordinator Kevin O'Connor; marshals Jan Anderson, Carroll Cummings, Peggy DeAngelis, Patrick Moreland, Kate O'Connor, Amber Pillsbury, and James Valente; and traffic volunteers Diane Cooke, Mike Corbeil, Steve Dutton, Jerry Forkin, Richard Guthrie, John Mudge, and Brian and Frank Nephew.
- Our committee volunteers Bob and Kerry Amidon, Mary Lou Amidon, Corwin and Betty Elwell, and Stephanie Larson.
- Brattleboro Community Television, whose live broadcast hosted by Tim Johnson and Jim Maxwell can be replayed on its website.
- And all our citizen, civic, and corporate donors, including fireworks sponsor Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, parade sponsors C&S Wholesale Grocers and G.S. Precision, and major supporters the Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Holstein Association USA, New Chapter, The Richards Group, and WTSA Radio.
This celebration of our diverse community has been a tradition for almost four decades, and the committee appreciates everyone's help in ensuring it continues.