Scout Troop 539 in Vergennes march in Vermont’s annual Salute to Veterans Parade in 2021. The parade, featuring 300 male and female Scouts and Cub Scouts from around the state, comes to Brandon this Saturday, Nov. 9.
Photo courtesy of Francesca Arato

BRANDON — Everyone is invited to attend the 26th annual Scouting Salute to Veterans parade this Saturday, Nov. 9, in Brandon. Parade sponsors American Legion Post 55 and Pack & Troops 110/2019 of Brandon will lead marchers down Park Street beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In honor of the brave men and women who preserve the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by Vermonters, Scouting America, Green Mountain Council is proud to organize this parade. Nearly 300 marchers will convene in Brandon as it plays host to this tradition for the first time.

Marchers will pause at the Town Green for a brief ceremony.

After the parade, lunch will be offered to marchers at the Brandon Inn Grounds, 20 Park St.

Vermont is the only state in the nation to have such a parade. Started in 1999 by Pete Whitaker, a Scouting volunteer and high school history teacher from Richmond, the parade has attracted thousands of Scouts, veterans and spectators. Brandon joins more than a dozen towns that have played host to this parade in the past including Bristol in 2014 and Vergennes in 2021.

Parade participants include Scout groups, from across the state, the Norwich University Corp of Cadets and various high school bands. Veterans marching in the parade include units and color guards for the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart Society and other groups and non-affiliated veterans.

For more information, visit www.scoutingvermont.org/veteransparade.html.