A salute to Laguna’s heroes

Barbara Diamond

Laguna Beach celebrated “America’s Heroes,” especially our own, at

the Patriots Day Parade March 4.

“We are honoring the many thousands of ordinary Americans who in

this time of conflict and natural disaster have gallantly gone beyond

the call of duty,” parade committee President Nina Rietsch said.

“They serve unheralded in our armed forces, in public safety and in

volunteer organizations. We are magnified by their courage and

sacrifice.”

And our lives are enriched by the parade, from the lead-off

motorcycle escort to the cheering throng that lined the route down

Park Avenue to Glenneyre Street and then to Forest Avenue.

Those who missed the 39th annual parade can see it on Cox Cable

channel 30 at 6 p.m., Saturday and at 4:30 p.m., March 19.

The parade is the legacy of Emily Ross, whose dream of a parade

“to instill in our youth love of country and respect for the flag”

began in 1967, with the assistance of the Patience Wright Chapter of

the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Laguna Beach

Exchange Club.

Over the years the parade has honored movie stars, musicians and

Mickey Mouse, but the persistent theme has always been patriotism,

behind the lines and in the trenches.

Some of the participants have risked risk their lives and have

shed blood to protect us.

Citizen of the Year Donald McLean Williamson served in the

military, but his most recent action was helping to thwart the

hijacking of the Pageant of the Masters by a Festival of Arts board

of directors, who wanted to relocate the show. He wasn’t about to let

that happen.

Parade grand marshal, Police Chief James Spreine, nearing the end

of his career, and Patriot of the Year, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl.

Ed Hanke III, just starting his, have the shared experience of

wearing the Purple Heart, earned with their blood.

Spreine was decorated for his service in Vietnam. Hanke was

awarded his medal after he was wounded in action in Iraq.

Parade officials said Hanke symbolized the young men and women

from Laguna Beach who have served their country in time of war. Ethan

Slattery, also a lance corporal in the Marines, made it home from

Iraq in time to ride in the parade.

Later in the day, Girl Scouts honored the two young men with

cookies. The Scouts didn’t even know that Slattery’s mother was Katie

Slattery, a hero to the group for her years of support.

Vincent Ray, also a III, a lance corporal, a wearer of the Purple

Heart and an LBHS grad, arrived home the day before the parade after

a tour of duty in Iraq, too late to participate, but he had a seat on

the reviewing stand.

Lance Cpl. Kevin Staight was redeployed to Iraq the week before

the parade. Nick Sweeney has been there since January.

“They and all service members who are serving in harm’s way are in

our thoughts and prayers.” U.S. Marine Corps Col. (Ret.) Charles

Quilter said.

By definition, a police officer is serving in harm’s way, but

Spreine is getting out of the line of fire. He will retire in October

from the Laguna Beach Police Department he has served since 1981 and

move to Washington with his wife, Linda, also a law enforcement

officer until her retirement this winter.

Camryn and Katelyn Ostrander popped out of the Miss Linda’s Castle

entry to present Spreine with a thank you card for his years of

service to Laguna Beach.

“That’s a keeper,” Spreine said.

In tribute to another side of Spreine, Annie Quilter yelled,

“Don’t miss the chief’s farewell performance in ‘Lagunatics,’” at the

crowd as she sashayed along the parade route between the entries of

the Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. and “Lagunatics,” whose 2005

presentation, “Senior Prom,” will benefit the senior center.

“You can’t miss her,” said daughter Emily Quilter, parade horse

wrangler for more than five years.

Mom was wearing a shocking-pink, one-shouldered, satin prom dress,

long enough to give only an occasional glimpse of the combat boots

she wore to walk in comfort.

The younger generation also was represented in the parade. Megan

Vick and Tyler Hathaway were selected by the faculty and staff of

Laguna Beach High School as the Junior Citizens of the Year.

Laguna Beach Boy Scouts carried the parade banner. Laguna Girl

Scouts marched with the parade theme banner. Other Laguna Beach youth

groups in the parade included the High School and Thurston Middle

School Band, Elementary School Band, Little League, Boys and Girls

Club, the Laguna Club for Kids, the “Be a Super Hero Read a Book

Library Program and the Elementary School Honors Chorus, which

serenaded the reviewing stand with “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The parade committee gave thanks to students, Elliott Whalen, for

his contest-winning program cover art contest, and Chris Reed, whose

essay on America’s heroes was printed in the program.

Program advertising provides a large portion of the funding for

the parade, which is organized by an all-volunteer committee. The

city donates services.

Rietsch heads the committee, which includes Anne Wood, Gavin

Kentle, Bill Morris, Doug Miller, Eugene D’Isabella, Sonny Budd,

Sande St. John, Karen Ford, Jim and Jean Law, past committee

President Charlie Quilter, Jon Tschirgi, Jerry Ford, Richard Moore,

Don Black, Hal and Sandi Werthe.

On parade day, the committee was augmented by volunteers Barbara

Williams-Pemberton, Joan Trivitt, Ceil Shaman, Howard Levin, Joe

Jahraus, Jay Andrus, Boy Scout Troop 35, Marv Johnson, Police

Explorers and Mike Morrison, John Campbell arranged insurance and Les

and Marilyn Thomas and Mike Tauber judged the entries.

More on the parade next week. Just too much good stuff to fit in

one column.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 222 in the

Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949)

494-8979.