VERGENNES — Louis Urban, a retired sergeant major, will be this year’s parade marshal in the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade set for May 30.
Urban is a veteran of the Hungarian Revolutionary Army, which he joined at the age of 15. In 1950 the Russian Army, backed by hundreds of Russian tanks, began the Battle of Hungary, which killed thousands. Urban escaped from Hungary, going to Austria, to Yugoslavia and then to Bremerhaven, Germany, where he “caught a ride” to America. There he eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army.
After completing three years in the Army, he came to Vermont and enlisted with the Vermont Air National Guard, where he remained for more than 20 years. He was discharged as a sergeant major.
Urban is a longtime member of the Vergennes American Legion. He and his family now reside in Williston.