Parade hasn’t lost its spirit

Deepa Bharath

There’s nothing out of the ordinary about Duke Place.

On any other day it’s a quiet little cul-de-sac in Costa Mesa’s

College Park, where the kids ride their bikes and their parents get

together in a neighbor’s garage for Monday Night Football and a

potluck.

But on the Fourth of July, Duke Place looks like a page out of

Norman Rockwell’s portfolio.

The American flag reigns supreme. Miniature versions of it dot the

yards. Bigger versions of it flutter on poles. Plastic versions of it

are pinned to clothes or hats.

The official colors of the day are red, white and blue.

For more than a decade, Duke Place has had a tradition of its own

-- its own Independence Day parade, an extended version of the

neighborhood block party.

It’s not a fancy show. It’s more of a fun thing that everyone

jumps in on.

Denny Strickler has been a part of it all along. His 14-year-old

is getting his go karts ready for this year’s parade.

“It’s nice that everyone gets together,” he said. “This is a

close-knit neighborhood, and we’re all like family here.”

Anything on wheels goes, said neighbor Rick Palombo.

“We have kids decorating their bikes and skateboards,” he said.

“Adults bring out their cars. My kids have been on the parade in

strollers. Anything that rolls on wheels is good for our parade.”

Palombo’s wife and daughters ride the parade in the family’s

Chrysler Sebring convertible, waving out to bystanders.

“It’s like they’re in a big, fancy parade,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s all fun.”

But there will be one difference in this year’s parade, something

that will make their steps a tad slower, their smiles a tad dimmer

and their eyes a little more moist.

Bruce Hedrick, the man who started it all, won’t be a part of it

this year. He died in May at age 77.

Hedrick pioneered Duke Place’s biggest party of the year. He would

put lights on his truck, power up the speakers and play John Philip

Sousa’s marching music. Then he’d blow a whistle and conduct the

parade.

Hedrick always made someone carry the flag right in front. Palombo

has been that flag bearer for the last five years.

Bobbie, who was married to Bruce Hedrick for 52 years, has already

done her grocery shopping for the holiday. The Hedricks have always

had a big barbecue in their front yard and it wasn’t going to stop

now.

“It’s very hard this year though,” she said, choking up. “It’s

hard to do this without him.”

The neighbors are dedicating this year’s parade to the memory of

Bruce Hedrick. The parade, appropriately, will be led by his namesake

-- his son.

The younger Bruce Hedrick has traditionally ridden his unicycle.

This year, he may have to drive the truck his dad religiously drove

every Fourth of July.

The parade goes through Duke Place and a couple of other

surrounding streets. Some people join in. Others just watch from

outside their homes.

“But it’s just gotten bigger with every year,” Palombo said.

The younger Hedrick and his neighbor, Strickler, also put up a

spectacular racing car show.

The two buy little plastic cars and power them with rocket motors.

They then place a nylon string on the street and race cars along the

string.

“It’s a pretty cool thing,” Palombo said. “Everyone watches that.”

The evening usually culminates in fireworks.

“We have a lot of family come in because we’re one of the few

cities where fireworks are permitted,” Palombo said.

Former Costa Mesa Mayor Arlene Shafer, who lives on neighboring

Bucknell Street, said she has never seen a similar parade in any

other Orange County neighborhood.

“It’s something we all look forward to every year,” she said.

Shafer takes her dog, whom she dresses up in a red, white and blue

visor.

“I could never move out of this place because I’d feel like I’m

leaving my family behind,” she said.

Bobbie Hedrick’s home is already full with her daughters and son

coming to town for the holiday.

She’ll buy the hot dog buns and make her famous potato salad.

She’ll plant the little flags in the yard, sit out on a chair and

watch the kids as they ride their bikes by.

She and her family members know that the man who started it all

wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“Oh, he’ll be here,” said the younger Bruce Hedrick. “He’ll be

watching our parade.”