NEWPORT — A memorial procession spanning international boundaries will wind through Orleans County Saturday to honor a U.S. Border Patrol agent who died in January.
The ceremony for Agent David “Chris” Maland will bring together U.S. and Canadian law enforcement in a display of cross-border solidarity. About 100 vehicles are expected to participate in the procession beginning at 1 p.m.
Maland, 44, died in the line of duty Jan. 20. The procession reflects the interconnected nature of border communities, particularly significant as Maland’s fiancée serves with the Canada Border Services Agency.
The motorcade will depart from the Border Patrol Station on Citizens Road in Derby, proceeding to the I-91 Port of Entry where Canadian officers will join. The procession will then travel through several northern Vermont communities before arriving at Faith Lighthouse Assembly of God Church on Alderbrook Road in Newport.
A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m., organized by the church’s pastor, Robert Wainwright, who also served as Maland’s partner in the Border Patrol.
Community support extends beyond the service, with the local Elk’s Lodge hosting a complimentary spaghetti dinner afterward. While the meal is free, attendees can make donations to the church in Maland’s memory.
The procession reflects the close working ties that have developed between U.S. and Canadian border personnel in northern Vermont.
