Middleburg gained two citizens of the highest order when Dudley Bunn retired as an Army Lieutenant Colonel to Middleburg, Virginia with his wife, Cissy. Of all the things the Bunn's did, the most memorable may be the annual Christmas in Middleburg Parade. Known to all as the nicest, most concerned and caring people, they always had a kind word and a helping hand, according to Middleburg Bank Vice President Reggie Dawson. They first owned Scotland House, and then opened Thoroughbreds while they lived in Middleburg. A few years ago, when the Bunns moved to Atlanta, to, as Dudly said, …"sit on the porch." They only returned for special occasions. "Cissy died several years ago," Reggie reminisced. "Now, with Dudly's recent passing, we look back and realize just how much they both did to help our community."

The origin of the Christmas parade took place during coffee at the Red Fox Inn when Dudly and Cissy heard the mayor say that Middleburg needed a parade. It only took an instant for both the Bunn's to begin making plans to address the need.

"Tyler Gore of Royston Funeral Home, and Patty Arwine, who had a business where the Home Store is now, were also there, and Dudly enlisted them to help get the parade started," Reggie said. "At first it was just the Kenna Temple Bagpipers from Arlington/Fairfax and a few citizens' groups who thoroughly enjoyed the festive walk through town to begin the holiday season. We all went to Dudly and Cissy's house for ribbon tying parties a few days before the parade, they made chili and we all sat around eating, tying and having fun as we prepared for a very long day during the actual event."

No one may have realized just how long that day was going to be in the 21st century. In the beginning, Dudly wanted to be sure everything was well organized and, to that end, he made maps of where all the holiday signs were to be hung, and supervised their installation with great care.

"He was everywhere," said Dawson. "Dudly just loved the Christmas Parade, and no matter how much work it took, he was determined it would be better each successive year."

As Dudly's dream came true and the parade began to assume larger and larger proportions, the Middleburg Business Association got involved. Each president of the organization had the responsibility to help with the parade.

"I remember when I was vice president of the business association, McKelvy Costin, who was president then, gave me an envelope and said, …here's what you need to do the parade…. Reggie continued. "Inside were scraps of paper with a jumble of handwritten phone numbers. I decided then and there that we had to organize the parade."

"When Dee Dee Hubbard was elected president of the business association, she and Caroline Casey and I were able to organize the parade each year with the help of dozens of wonderful community citizens who love the event just as much as Dudly did."

Today, the community walk through town has become a signature event for Middleburg. Always organized on the first Saturday in December, the festivities now begin with the Hunt riding through the village in the morning, and the actual parade lining up for a 3 p.m. start.

"October, November and December are all 'parade' months," Reggie said. "It's a job that begins every year just as the previous year's parade ends. In the past six years the crowds have become so enormous that, without the kindness of Salamander to let us use their fields for parking, we couldn't accommodate all the people who come to view. We used to have to run shuttle buses to the Catholic Church and back to take care of people."

The parade now includes as many as sixty different units. All sorts of animals parade, dogs, cats, alpacas, llamas, ox carts, carriages and zebras. The Corgi Corps that now marches every year, began with a just few local corgi owners. Last Christmas, Almost 80 corgis of all kinds and from all over the world marched in a wiggly, smiling gaggle as the parade wound from the Sportsman's Library to its conclusion.

"One year, we decided to add a Grand Marshall to the parade, and the idea was to invite a famous person to be so honored," Dawson explained. "Soon, we all realized that the Christmas in Middleburg Parade had a life of its own and we should honor outstanding local citizens."

"The best Grand Marshals ever were Dudly and Cissy Bunn. They came from Atlanta for the parade, and I could tell by watching him that Dudly was exceptionally touched and pleased. They will both be seriously missed."