It’s time to sign up for Laguna’s Patriots Day Parade; grand marshals are 2 Olympians
It’s the first week of the new year, and that means it’s time to sign up to participate in the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade.
Parade entries must be recorded by Jan. 13. The deadline for placing an ad in the program is Monday.
Meanwhile, the parade committee announced last week the honorees for the 51st annual parade, scheduled for March 4.
The parade recognizes people who have served the community and country in times of war and disaster.
The procession traditionally begins at 11 a.m. near Laguna Beach High School on Park Avenue and traverses downtown streets before ending in front of City Hall, on Forest Avenue. A variety of groups participate, from members of organizations decorating floats to school bands performing for the crowd.
This year’s honorees include Grand Marshals Aria and Makenzie Fischer, sisters who were on the U.S. women’s water polo team that won gold during last summer’s Rio Olympics; Honored Patriot Robert Sternfels, a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Forces who participated in a bombing raid on Hitler’s oil fields in Ploiești, Romania, during World War II; Citizen of the Year Douglas Miller, painter, photographer and musician; Artist of the Year John Barber, who specializes in glass blowing; and Junior Citizens of the Year Wyatt Shipp and Madison Sinclair, both seniors at Laguna Beach High.
The parade committee, with suggestions from the public, nominates all honorees except the junior citizens, who are selected by Laguna Beach High staff.
Contests were held for the parade program’s cover art and essay. The parade committee selected work from Laguna Beach High student Jared Ghetian and Thurston Middle School student Claire Tigner, respectively. Jared and Claire will each receive $100, the release said.
The committee will celebrate the honorees at a brunch from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Feb. 5 at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road. The cost is $30 per person. Reservations must be made by Jan. 24 by calling Sandi Werthe at (949) 494-6016 or emailing shworthy@cox.net.
For more information, contact Werthe or lagunabeachparade.org.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
