BRATTLEBORO — Our sincere thanks to everyone who made Brattleboro's 42nd annual free family Independence Day celebration such a rousing success.
The all-volunteer “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee and town Recreation & Parks Department were able to present the event only because of the generosity of countless individuals and organizations that donated their time, money and talent, including:
- Brattleboro's Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which not only led our parade with its giant U.S. flag but also covered all the costs of this year's march.
- More than 50 parade entries, including the Brattleboro American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands, veterans, firefighters, community and youth groups, and our finale favorite, local personality Alfred Hughes Jr., chauffeured this year by Selectman John Allen.
- Parade marshals Jan Anderson, Chip Cummings, Patrick Moreland, Kate O'Connor, and James Valente; traffic volunteers Mike Corbeil, Steve Dutton, Jerry Forkin, John Mudge, and Brian and Frank Nephew; the staff of the town Recreation & Parks Department; and Brattleboro and Vermont State Police and the Windham County Sheriff's Department.
- The Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons, WTSA Radio, Brattleboro Goes Fourth Facebook page editor Kerry Amidon, and Brattleboro Community Television, whose live broadcast hosted by Tim Johnson and Tim O'Connor can be replayed on its website.
- And all our citizen, civic and corporate donors, including major supporters C&S Wholesale Grocers, G.S. Precision Inc., Holstein Association USA, the Richards Group, and the event's fireworks fundraising partner, Brattleboro Savings & Loan.
This celebration of our diverse community has been a tradition for four decades, and the committee appreciates everyone's help in ensuring it continues.