[2] His family moved to the United States when Burns was two years old, and settled in Burlington, Vermont when he was seven.

[2] Burns was educated in the schools of Burlington and attended Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts and Goddard Seminary in Barre City, Vermont.

[5] Burns left college to join the United States Army for World War I.

[9] A first lieutenant when he left active duty, Burns remained in the Army for several years as a member of the Organized Reserve Corps.

[10] In addition, he coached the baseball team at Saint Michael's College in Colchester for four years, then accepted the same position at Norwich University.

[10] As an experienced aviator, Burns was credited with successfully persuading reluctant commissioners that an airport should be built, and with identifying the site the commission approved.

[10] Burns garnered headlines in France when he extolled the virtues of Vermont by handing out maple sugar cakes as gifts.