Fri, 06/09/2023 - 09:02 am

KEVIN BURNHAM

The rows of eight march through. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Leading the Grand March were Sydney Blake and Gryffin Kristan. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Alumni Association President Lynn Martin welcomes everyone to the Grand March. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The Alumni Band. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Cathy and Gary Blake, BRHS graduates of 1968 and 1967, respectively, lead the parade of parents into the gym. They are the grandparents of Sydney Blake, 2023 BRHS class president. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Tricia Campbell and her husband Jason, parents of 2023 BRHS salutatorian Grace Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Association members Lisa Hallinan and Stephanie Hawke. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The rows of eight march through. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Leading the Grand March were Sydney Blake and Gryffin Kristan. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Alumni Association President Lynn Martin welcomes everyone to the Grand March. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The Alumni Band. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Tricia Campbell and her husband Jason, parents of 2023 BRHS salutatorian Grace Campbell. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Association members Lisa Hallinan and Stephanie Hawke. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The Boothbay Region High School Grand March: It’s an old tradition dating back over 100 years but the bright lights, coordinated march, and the young girls and boys dressed in fine dresses and tuxedos is always a new and exciting moment for the graduating class and audience.

Held this year on Thursday, June 8 in Porter Memorial Gymnasium, the Grand March is sponsored by Boothbay Region Alumni Association. Lynn Martin, president of the association for the past 17 years, told the audience, which nearly filled the gym bleachers, that it was good that at least one tradition remained after several of BRHS’s week-long traditions for the graduating class have changed over the years.

As is sometimes the case, underclassmen participated in the event to pair with either girls or boys for an even number of couples; this year, 10 girls were needed to pair up with the boys in the graduating class. The Alumni Band once again provided the marching music.

Cathy Blake, Class of 1968 and Gary Blake, Class of 1967, led the parade of parents. They are the grandparents of senior class president Sydney Blake.

“Over the past several years, even before Covid, many graduation traditions have changed considerably,” Martin said. “Baccalaureate is no longer, the banquet has been replaced with a cookout, this year due to rain, the cookout scheduled at Barrett’s Park was moved to the Masonic Lodge, and just for the graduates. The Grand March has been moved to the night before graduation, and now, discussion of the formal attire was brought forth. In a changing world, we do our best to accommodate everyone, while still trying to maintain this amazing tradition, believed to be the last high school in the country to host a “Grand March” with such fanfare.”

Martin also thanked the following for making the Grand March possible before introducing the parents and Grand March participants.

Stephanie Hawke, treasurer, Lisa Hallinan, Allan Crocker, a huge thank you to Allan for his many years of being the senior class advisor and all he does in this role. Kevin Burnham, Glenn Tilton, Cathy Latter, Lynn and Tyler Blake, Cathy Blake, Eric and Tracey Dunton, without their help this year with decorating, it would not have looked this good. The maintenance and custodial staff, the high school administration, The Boothbay Register, Channel 7, Boothbay Region Community Band, and the Boothbay Harbor Police Department.