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Celebrating Citizenship and Thank You Henry Broughton

photo provided After 44 years years, Henry Broughton is stepping down from his role as one of the key organizers of the Vergennes Memorial Day parade.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

By Cookie Steponaitis

For the thousands of people who stream into Vergennes on Memorial Day, it will be business as usual. They come to see Vermont’s largest parade and to spend time celebrating with friends and witnessing an annual tradition in Vermont that honors the nations’ fallen soldiers and showcases local citizenship and community. There will be marching bands, balloons, fire departments, floats, smiles, flags, rescue squads and weather permitting or not, Vermonters will mark the passing of another year and usher in the summer season.
What will go unnoticed is that a changing of the guard is taking place and a citizen leader is stepping down. This is the last Memorial Day Parade with Henry Broughton at the helm ending a forty-four year commitment of service. A fifty-four year member of American Legion Post # 14 that sponsors the parade, Henry first became associated with this Legion program in 1968. When he first began the entire parade was only the length of two parking lots. “I became involved to make the parade more a message of what Memorial Day is about, and over the years it has continued to grow,” shared Henry Broughton in a 2011 interview.

Not only active in his annual marathon of planning and preparation for the parade, Henry and the Legion also work with the Vergennes Eagles Club to sponsor the July 4th fireworks and a host of community programs and causes. At 80 years young, Henry has decided to do as he has always done and quietly hand off to the next generation. No fanfare, no seeking of the limelight, Henry Broughton and other citizens who serve do so simply because they can. They lead by example and serve in countless ways, strengthening the fabric of life for all those around them. They define citizenship as a personal mantra and then carry it out in their daily lives.

The Valley Voice wants to salute all citizen volunteers and civic organizations for their resolute, determined diligence and for seeing the link between being a free people and the responsibilities that go with those freedoms. And to Mr. Henry Broughton, THANK YOU seems not enough, but it is heartfelt and your citizenship and service was not only noticed and appreciated, it is the model that so many that follows behind use to aspire to. We are all better in our lives because of people like you.

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