4th of July Parade Marshal Announcement

For Immediate Release
Sophia Baldwin, Marketing & Member Support Coordinator
events@germantownchamber.org
Date: 6/17/2026
4^th of July Parade Grand Marshal Announced
 
Germantown, WI: The Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce that Mary Brown will be the Grand Marshal of the 2026 4^th of July Parade on our nation’s 250^th anniversary.  The parade is presented by Enviro-Safe Resource Recovery and plan to join us on Independence Day at the 11AM parade to celebrate our community and country!
 
Mary was born and raised in Fond du Lac and in 1969 graduated from the then Fond du Lac Technical Institute Practical Nurse program as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).  In February 1970, as an LPN, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and qualified to be a part of the Army’s “Stripes for Skills” program.  Upon completion of Basic Training and Advance Training, she was promoted to “Specialist 5”/E-5 and was assigned to Lyster Army Hospital, Fort Rucker, AL.  While stationed at Fort Rucker, Mary met her future husband, Darrell who came from a family of veterans that served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW I, WW II and the Vietnam Era.  They were married 47 years before he passed away in 2019.  Darrell and Mary are blessed with 5 children, 16 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  Two sons and two grandsons have carried on the family tradition and made the service their career. 
 
Shortly after they married and as Vietnam was winding down, Darrell was reassigned to Fort Carson, CO and Mary’s request for transfer was denied, as the Army was getting short of female medics and LPNs.  Mary submitted an Honorable Discharge and joined Darrell in Colorado.  While her husband was in Korea, she obtained a Civil Service job at the Fort Carson Army Hospital working there for 9 years and during that period pursued an associate’s degree in nursing and became a Register Nurse (RN). 
 
Germantown became their new home in 1993, after her job as a Registered Nurse at a military hospital in Germany was ended.  She then worked at Zablocki VA Medical Center until retiring in 2005 with 32+ years of government service.  As a veteran she was honored to have been able to take care of her “own” fellow Veterans,” including her husband.
 
After a year retired Mary joined Germantown Memorial Auxiliary 9202 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary under Darrell’s eligibility as a Vietnam Combat Veteran.  Within 2 years, she was elected Auxiliary President for 5 years and during this time, she was also elected District President for 3 years.  A year later she became involved at the Department (State) level of the organization which included chairmanships and assorted leadership positions and was elected Department President in 2019.  She is currently Treasurer of the Germantown VFW Auxiliary.
 
As a member of the VFW Auxiliary, she later joined Post 1 American Legion. One Memorial Day, due to no chaplain being available, she was asked to read a prayer during their cemetery visits, and she now continues to share prayers at meetings, cemeteries and events at the Memorial. She attends Legion meetings, volunteers on BINGO night and helps wherever it is needed. 
 
In the community in the fall, she works with St. Boniface Apple Pie committee to distribute apple pies to veterans, in November, she sets up a veteran display at Germantown Associated Bank and decorates the Veterans Christmas Tree at the Chamber’s Tannenbaum Trail® at Firemen’s Park.  These activities wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for her “helpers”. 
 
In May 2022, Mary was privileged to be on an all-Women’s Honor Flight out of Madison, and it was a day she will never forget.  Reading letters and notes from her “mailbag” brought tears, especially from one of her sons, who acknowledge her service, her husband’s, their sons, and grandsons.  As she reflected on her son’s letter, he noted that all her life she has been taking care of her family, hospitalized veterans, and now veteran groups.  This experience showed her it was time for her to take care of herself “this Veteran” and continue to do what is important to her—staying involved with the local VFW Auxiliary, American Legion, community and quilting.
 
Mary would like to thank the Post 1 American Legion Commander, Kristi Bonnell for submitting her name to the Germantown Chamber of Commerce as the 4^th of July Parade marshal.  She looks forward to seeing the community at the parade and she proudly says, “God Bless America”!
 
 
Questions on the 4^th of July Parade can be directed to the Chamber at executivedirector@germantownchamber.org or events@germantownchamber.org. To find more events in our community, visit our community calendar at germantownchamber.org/events/calendar.


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