A color guard marched through the crowd of civilians and military before the ceremony started.
General Dubie stood at attention for the playing of the national anthem before the ceremony commenced.
Governor Shumlin, General Dubie and the color guard as the anthem played.
General Dubie, Governor Peter Shumlin and General Tom Drew took a seat on the stage during the opening of the ceremony.
From left: Congressman Peter Welch, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Patrick Leahy and Zoran Jolevski, the Macedonian ambassador with his wife.
Speaker of the House Shap Smith also attended the ceremony.
Sen. Patrick Leahy. VTDigger file photo
Soon-to-be Adjutant General Tom Drew laughed when Senator Leahy called him the only one in attendance who really knew how to comb his hair.
Senator Leahy presented Dubie with a framed document from the Senate announcing the approval of his appointment.
Senator Leahy presented Dubie with a framed document from the Senate announcing the approval of his appointment.
Senator Bernie Sanders called Dubie’s appointment bittersweet for Vermont. While he was proud to see Vermont’s top military commander appointed to such an important post, he was sad to see him go.
Congressman Peter Welch was similarly sad to say goodbye to Dubie, and thanked him for his work.
General Dubie, Governor Shumlin and General Tom Drew looked on as Welch spoke.
Governor Shumlin, who officiated the ceremony, opened with a complimentary speech noting Dubie’s accomplishments and Drew’s qualifications for the job.
Shumlin, the Commander in Chief of the Vermont National Guard, commended the guard for its response to Tropical Storm Irene.
While many of Dubie’s family members as well as local and national politicians crowded into the ceremony, it was clear that the guard would miss Dubie too.
General Drew looked on as Governor Shumlin spoke.
Dubie was awarded two medals at the ceremony. Distinguished Service Medal and Vermont Distinguished Service Medal, for his service with the Vermont National Guard. Governor Shumlin looked at his top commander before the presenation.
Governor Shumlin, General Drew and General Dubie stood at attention before the medal ceremony.
Governor Shumlin, General Drew and General Dubie stood at attention before the medal ceremony.
Governor Shumlin presented Dubie with the Vermont Distinguished Service Medal before the change in command.
Mayor Miro Weinberger. VTDigger file photo
General Dubie gestured lovingly to a section of the crowd dominated by his family. His brother, former Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie, was in attendance.
General Dubie thanked “Uncle Bob,” right, for coming.
Dubie’s wife (left, with pearls) and three daughters had front row seats to the ceremony.
While the Dubie family came out in force to the ceremony, the guard, who Dubie also called “family,” made up the majority of the crowd.
General Dubie read from a campaign pin produced as part of Calvin Coolidge’s presidential campaign. Dubie closed his speech with a story his grandfather told him about the 1927 flood. After seeing the damage from that flood, President Coolidge, a native Vermonter, gave a speech calling Vermonters tougher than the rock of ages. Dubie agreed.
In a break from his usual handshake and shoulder pat, Governor Shumlin gave Dubie a hug after his speech.
Dubie stood before the crowd and his soldiers one final time before they left his command.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the color guard presented the green flag used to represent the Vermont National Guard.
After General Dubie presented Shumlin with the flag – symbolically handing over control of the Vermont National Guard, Shumlin passed it on to interim Adjutant General Drew, who will hold the post until the legislature appoints a permanent replacement for Dubie next year.
Adj. Gen. Michael Dubie, left, and Gov. Peter Shumlin. Photo by Taylor Dobbs.
Twitter: @@taylordobbs. Taylor Dobbs is a freelance reporter based in Burlington, Vt. Dobbs is a recent graduate of the journalism program at Northeastern University. He has written for PBS-NOVA, Wired...
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