Two GOP candidates banned from Colchester parade

by Guy Page

The award-winning bagpipers of the Catamount Pipe Band marched and played in the Montpelier Independence Day Parade, July 3.

Catamount Pipe Band is multigenerational organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Scottish music, tradition, and culture, according to its WordPress site. The members of Catamount Pipe Band are dedicated to developing and perfecting their skills as musicians, and as members of the community. In Catamount Pipe Band there is no compromising the virtues of sportsmanship: honesty, integrity, and respect drive the band to compete fairly and to win or lose with grace and dignity.

The idea for Catamount Pipe Band was first breathed into existence in 1998. Iain MacHarg was in his kitchen with Cheryl and Cyrus McQueen, and the idea to create a pipe band in Vermont that was capable of competitive playing was born.

The band started with a small initial membership, all of whom were members of the St. Andrew’s Society of Vermont Pipe Band. Iain took on the role of pipe major. Early Catamount Pipe Band practices took place in band member Bruce Watson’s garage. Sadly, as the band was beginning to build its foundation, founding member Cyrus McQueen was lost to cancer, and Cheryl McQueen left the band. The ripple of grief among the small, close-knit membership, the Catamount Pipe Band was abandoned and the idea was set aside for a future endeavor.

A few months later, the dream of a competitive pipe band in Vermont was reignited. Iain looked to his students to begin rebuilding the band membership, and had significant success. Now 2001, Catamount Pipe Band began in earnest and continues strong to this day.

The early band lineup was incredibly successful, winning many local and championship contests, and the Catamount habit of striving for victory has continued to this day. To date Catamount has secured 7 Northeastern Championships from the Capital District Highland Games (2005, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, and one unknown year in grade 3), 7 New England Championships (Grade 4: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012; Grade 5: 2013, 2017, and one unknown year), and 4 finals placings at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland (10th in 2011, 4th in 2013, 6th in 2015, and 11th in 2018).

Also seen and heard by parade watchers were the Fife & Drum Hanaford Volunteers, a pretty decent band from the Higher Ground nightclub, and a raucous, dissonant, drum-banging, chanting march by pro-Palestinian activists. The latter most people observed in stony silence. Some were seen turning their backs in mute protest.

Republican candidates denied access to Colchester parade – Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Greg Thayer and U.S. Senate candidate Gerald Malloy were denied access to march in the Colchester Independence Day parade held at 10 AM July 4.

According to GOP organizers, the parade organizers would not permit them to walk because they were affiliated with a controversial entry in the July 4 parade two years ago. A flatbed truck reportedly symbols and flags considered ‘hate’ symbols by some non-conservative organizations also promote the candidacies of Malloy and Thayer. A media kerfluffle ensued at the time.

Thursday morning, during the parade lineup, parade officials told GOP organizers that neither Malloy nor Thayer – both on the GOP ballot for the second consecutive election, and Malloy the party nominee in the U.S. Senate race in 2022 – would be welcome.

In a car emblazoned with campaign posters, Thayer and a campaign aide nevertheless slowly drove up the parade route before the parade began.

Content about the Catamount Pipe Band was sourced from the band’s WordPress site.