Here are many of the participants, with the Hotel Baxter, The Cannery Lounge, Burger Bob's, Leaf and Bean, Poor Richard's and Cactus Records in the background. We've learned that the Leaf and Bean (a coffee house and bakery) has just closed down and Poor Richard's (a news stand and tobacco shop) is ending its 40 plus year run this week, soon to be replaced by less funky and more upscale retail. That's progress I guess. Click to enlarge. Enjoy!
The Bozeman Post 14 American Legion color guard lead the way.
The Apsaalooke Nation, better known as the Crow Nation, presented their colors as well.
The Ladies Auxiliary was out in force.
An open air bus for some of the older fellows.
POWs and MIAs are not forgotten.
The Bozeman High School Marching Band was out full force in their spiffy new uniforms playing patriotic music. Bozeman is a great music town. It starts in the grade schools, where every public school 5th grader takes up learning to play a musical instrument. The middle and high schools have large and varied music programs. The maestro of the local symphony orchestra will be appearing in Carnegie Hall next week. Most weekdays he can be found on the Bridger Creek Golf course where he stands out from the rest with his rhythmically smooth and syrupy swing. The Gibson manufacturing facility off of 19th Avenue produces the guitar maker's acoustical instruments. Not bad for a town of about 40,000 people.
Belgrade American Legion Post 30 was well represented.
The local chapter of the DAR, organized in 1912, marched in the parade too. One thing we've learned that last year or two through our ancestral research, is our daughters are DAR eligible through blood on both sides of the family. That was news to me as I had known that three of my four grandparents were immigrants, but knew little about the ancestry of the fourth. Digging I've found my maternal grandmother's line includes ancestors in the United States dating back to the 1600s, including at least one, and probably more revolutionary war veterans.
Veterans on bikes. Vroom! Vroom!
The American Legion welcomed the VFW color guard.
Marching Boy Scouts and Club Scouts are a Memorial Day parade tradition.
ROTC cadets, or as I call them, the future officers of America, participated as well.
This WW II Navy officer was ferried by his Air Force friends.
The Vietnam Veterans of America rode a troop transport truck.
More veterans.
The VFW again.
Special recognition for those who served in Vietnam.
To no one's surprise, the Marine League was the best drilled and one of the best represented organizations in the parade.
Our very own Fort Ellis volunteer fire department's pride and joy rode in the parade.
The parade finished off with some good old buckboard western character, and....
a mounted drill team.
Montana State's spring term has ended, and the students have poured out of town, but the University proferred its street sweepers for a post horse clean sweep.
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