Some of Quantico’s most decorated officers will lead the 40th Annual Dumfries Christmas Parade.
Col. Allen Broughton and Sgt. Maj. Mark Byrd will be the grand marshals for the parade starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Broughton is the Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps National Capital Region and is based at Quantico. Byrd is Sgt. Major of Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Here’s more information about Broughton taken from a profile provided by Quantico:
Broughton
He has combat tours in Somalia and Iraq where he deployed as the Commanding Officer of a HMH-363. For their actions while deployed to Al Asad Iraq, HMH-363 was awarded the 2008 Marine Corps Aviation Association “Commandant’s Aviation Trophy.”
Colonel Broughton has advanced degrees from the Marine Corps War College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His has also attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and Marine Corps Command and Control System Course (Advance Communication Officers Course).
Colonel Broughton is married to the former Michelle Lyon of Salt Lake City, Utah and they have three children Victoria (23) a math teacher for Stafford County VA; Cullen (20) a senior at the Virginia Military Institute; and Emma (18) who is a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago.
Here’s more information about Byrd taken from a profile provided by Quantico:
Byrd
Sergeant Major Byrd reported to Manpower Management Division at Quantico, Virginia in October 2011. He was assigned as the senior enlisted for Manpower Management Support Branch 30 (MMSB-30). He was the subject matter expert on the Marine Corps Performance Evaluation, and fitness reports.
Sergeant Major Byrd assumed his current billet as the SgtMaj of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia on 18 December 2013.
Sergeant Major Byrd’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal two gold stars in lieu of third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Broughton and Byrd joined the Marine Corps in 1982 and 1985, respectively. Both men have agreed to replace Col. David Maxwell, the commanding officer of Quantico Marine Corps Base, who was first offered the role of parade grand marshal but could not attend due to “unexpected obligations,” according to a town resolution.
The theme for the Dumfries Christmas Parade is “Christmas Around the World.” The parade will follow an annual tree lighting ceremony at Town Hall at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
