A sinking ship rises to the top at Alumni Day Parade

Chester’s annual Alumni Day Parade kicked off on Saturday morning under threatening skies that dissipated as the musicians, floats and vehicles kicked off and headed down Main Street.

This year’s theme was The Movies, and the classes did not disappoint. First Place went to the Class of 1984 1983 for its sinking and floating rendition of The Titanic; A Charlie Brown Christmas won the Class of 1972 the Second Place award and the Class of 1988 won Third Place with its get up and dance float as a tribute to Footloose, according to Jon Clark of the Chester High/Green Mountain Union High Alumni Association.

This year’s parade marshal was Gertrude Bennett, a retired teacher and former school board member.  The banner for the oldest person in the parade went to Ginny Freeman, of the Class of 1944. And the Class of 1963 was noteworthy for having the most alums in attendance, maybe thanks to it celebrating its 50th anniversary. Take a stroll through the photo gallery, shot by Class of 1970 alum Sharon Baker, and see the sights at the parade.

It’s a rarity to see a sinking luxury liner in Chester, but the Class of 1983 pulled it off with its First Place winner, The Titanic.

Although M*A*S*H didn’t win, it didn’t bomb either. The happy faces from these alums tell it all.

A Charlie Brown Christmas, complete with Snoopy, came in 2nd for the Class of 1972.

The Chester-Andover Flag Squad creates a colorful display.

The Green Mountain Marching Band salutes returning graduates with music.

Members of the Class of 1988 proved they still have a lot of spring in their step with their 3rd Place winning float, a trip to Footloose.ring in

Monsters Inc. was given an appropriately unscary float filled with yellow monsters.

No one from the Class of 1915 could make it to the parade, but that didn’t stop some from honoring the class that graduated Merritt Edson.

And the vehicles abounded.

Chester’s new and bright blue ambulance.

The horses.

And the clowns on minibikes.

And appropriately, a John Deere tractor.