Front Row L-R: Patricia Skoog Duncan & Father Gosta Skoog, Pricilla Carlsen Smith & Father Jack Carlsen 

             Second Row: Edith MacDonald Jordan & Father Ted MacDonald, Harriet Martin Warren & Brother Benjamin Martin 

            Third Row: Helen Philbrook Speck & Father Earnest Philbrook, Greta Skoog & Brother-in-law Harold Haskell 

 VINALHAVEN — The Pratt Gymnasium at the Vinalhaven School is slowly filling with people. It is 6 p.m. Saturday, June 15, and the 125th graduating class of Vinalhaven High School has just completed commencement exercises. Now it’s time for the Grand March—an island tradition that has thrived for generations.

This year is the 90th anniversary of the Grand March, a 12-minute circuit around the gym, led by the class valedictorian. As with all island traditions, however, it’s so much more.

Tonight the ten members of the class, nine of them males, are decked out in their finest. Tuxedos are the dress of choice this evening. Shane Carlsen, a new graduate, has coordinated with his father, Richard Carlsen, who also participated in the Grand March in 1982. Both are wearing lilac vests.

“I came last year, and have been pretty excited about it since then,” says Shane Carlsen, who is following many familiar footsteps. His great-grandfather and great-aunt are pictured in the photo from the Grand March in 1950.

Evelyn Wadleigh, the lone girl in the class, chose a long navy gown and turquoise shawl.  She, too, is a multi-generation marcher. Her mother, Jen Wadleigh, took part in the Grand March when it was “back in the old gym,” she remembers.

Before the event begins, graduates gather with their parents at the far side of the gym, straightening ties, pinning corsages and adjusting hair.  

Then, Deli Anthony, the pianist at the Grand March for the past 22 years, settles upon the piano bench. The giggles and hushed jokes subside. Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters line up.

Frank Morton, this year’s valedictorian, steps out, with a parent on each arm and a huge grin upon his face. The march has begun.

For Jill Oakes, march coordinator for the past 15 years, this moment is her favorite. She’s not alone. The crowd occupying the bleachers obviously loves this, too.

“That was the best change that happened,” explains Oakes, “in 2010, when we decided to add the second parent.” Before, only the parent of the opposite gender marched.

“It really shows the support,” says Oakes, “seeing the graduates beaming, with both parents on either arm. It’s a great send-off.”

The graduates weave their way around the gym, the first lap with both parents, then marching down the middle and pausing for a photo, before the women split off to the right, the men to the left and then rejoining on the far side.

As each of the graduates passes, the audience—which rivals the size of that in attendance at a basketball game—cheers and applauds, with the occasional wolf whistle. Although the crowd is made up mostly of parents and relatives, it also draws community members, there to share the moment.

Carol Petillo, who moved to Vinalhaven in 1969, has been coming to the Grand March regularly since 1985.

“I’ve only missed one or two since then, I think,” says Petillo. “It’s one of my favorite things to do on Vinalhaven. Everyone is just so happy. I always have tears in my eyes throughout the whole event.”

As traditions go, Vinalhaven’s Grand March seems certain to continue for years to come. Oakes is sure of that.

“In the 15 years I’ve been doing the Grand March, not one student has not participated,” she said.

Eliza Drury of Vinalhaven is a student at Brown University and a participant in the Island Institute’s student journalism program.