Chester marks Memorial Day with parade, commemorations

W ith a parade, prayers, gun salutes, speeches, wreath layings and other ceremonies, Chester marked Memorial Day on Friday, May 30 – the traditional “Decoration Day” that began in the aftermath of the Civil War. This year’s remembrance was held under sunny skies as bands from Chester-Andover Elementary and Green Mountain Union High schools played and marched from the North Street Cemetery to the Brook Side Cemetery and finally to the Green, where members of Chester’s American Legion Post No. 67 and Chester Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 723 presided. The winner of the annual essay contest, 7th grader Kyriona Quelch, read “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” ON THE COVER: The Chester-Andover Elementary School Band forms a single-line formation to march on Main Street.  Photos by Shawn Cunningham. Click any photo to launch gallery.

Three volleys ring out to salute fallen American service men and women

The Color Guard of Legion Post 36 (Ludlow) leads a procession out of the cemetery toward the Green after the ceremony

The GMUHS Marching Band strikes up a medley of service anthems

The CAES school band turns down the Green from Main Street.

Pastor Susan Moody of the Congregational Church gives the invocation on the Green

Chester American Legion members raise the colors at the ceremony on the Green

Middle school student Kyriona Quelch, winner of the American Legion essay contest, reads her work.

Guest speaker Col. Michael T. Heston, the deputy adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, offers a few words.