For most of us, having a birthday during a pandemic might mean postponing a party until next year. But when the birthday is your 100th, you deserve a celebration. And Monkton resident Roger Layn got a big one. Hundreds of people drove by his house to honk, wave and wish the well-known farmer a happy birthday on Saturday, June 6.
Organized on Facebook by his grandkids as a surprise, Layn was told his grandkids and great-grandkids would be driving by to wish him a happy 100th. Instead, cars, trucks, tractors, police cars, fire trucks, and at least one septic truck filed by in a parade that lasted for more than an hour and a half.
The day was fitting: Saturday marked the 76th anniversary of D Day. Layn flew B-17 bombers in World War II and was a prisoner of war for 15 months. Born in Starksboro, he moved to Monkton as a boy and has farmed the land for decades.
While Layn was the person of honor, this was also one of the biggest community events in Monkton in many months. VPR's Jane Lindholm and her kids, who live in Monkton, joined the parade and sent back an audio postcard.
