Big Crowds Salute Desert Storm Veterans

Orange County cranked up its patriotic fervor with chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” San Francisco presented clashes between war supporters and protesters. Torrance saw attendance at its annual parade more than double.

So went the most emotional Armed Forces Day in many years, a California panorama of parades, protests and small-town picnics that served to greet the returning veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

And all of it might be considered a prelude to today’s Hollywood parade, which is expected to be the biggest, most spectacular show of them all.

Orange County’s parade, where police estimated as many as 200,000 people lined a 1.2-mile route in Irvine, could be a hard act to follow. Warplanes roared overhead, tanks rumbled past and more than 3,000 Marines from the nearby El Toro and Tustin bases received rousing ovations.

“We just want to support these guys as much as we can,” said Fran Laughlin of Artesia, who wore a small American flag in her hair and clapped as soldiers paraded by. “This is just an opportunity to tell all of them the way we feel.”

The parade, stretching along Alton Parkway at the southeast edge of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, marked the largest military celebration in Orange County since World War I, when 30,000 people--half the county at that time--turned out to welcome home soldiers.

Everyone from grandmothers with “Welcome Home” banners to neon-clad, flag-holding teen-agers tucked away any semblance of restraint and yelled as the men and women in uniform marched by.

Most of the soldiers marched past in formation, keeping their eyes straight ahead, not breaking ranks, not even daring to smile.

But a few could not resist a peek.

“I was supposed to be in squad and not look around,” said Sgt. James Anderson, a Chicago native who served in Saudi Arabia during the war. “But I couldn’t help myself. I was just too excited. I thought it was all pretty nice.”

Attendance at the Torrance parade was estimated at 40,000, and officials in San Diego, known as a Navy town, said as many as 250,000 onlookers attended a 16-block downtown parade--a number that surpassed attendance at the city’s World War II victory celebrations.

In sunny, breezy weather ideal for outdoor festivities, thousands of spectators flaunted banners, flags, red-white-and-blue balloons, yellow ribbons and other patriotic tokens in an outburst of nationalism tied to Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.

“It put a lump in my throat just seeing all those people,” said Marine Cpl. Richard Feddor of Chicago, 23, who spent 3 1/2 months in the Gulf. “That was quite a feeling.”

Police in Orange County reported no problems during the event other than snarled traffic. There were no organized anti-war demonstrations. In San Diego, police reported no major incidents and only a handful of arrests. Two protesters carrying a flag-draped coffin were escorted off the parade route along Broadway shortly after the event kicked off.

There were more clashes in the San Francisco parade.

Demonstrators and war supporters exchanged sharp words and occasional shoves and punches along the 1.8-mile parade route from the Presidio to Ft. Mason. Twelve people were arrested on misdemeanor charges ranging from throwing objects at police officers to climbing aboard military vehicles, police Cmdr. Richard Shippey said.

More than 2,200 active-duty and reserve soldiers marched in the parade, which also featured politicians, marching bands, a 21-gun salute and a parachute jump. Marching troops tended to ignore the scuffles. Police estimated the attendance at 20,000.

Meanwhile, officials for the Hollywood parade hosted a reception at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for retired Gen. William C. Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in the latter stages of the Vietnam War. Westmoreland will lead a contingent of Vietnam veterans in today’s parade. Army Lt. Gen. Calvin A. H. Waller, deputy commander of Operation Desert Storm, is the parade’s grand marshal.

More than 700 Los Angeles police and traffic officers have been assigned for the parade, which will proceed on a 3.2-mile loop through Hollywood along Sunset and Hollywood boulevards, begining at 4 p.m.

Anti-war activists began a vigil at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on the parade route at 5 p.m. Saturday in protest of the event’s militarism, and said they will continue their demonstration throughout the parade.

Los Angeles Archbishop Roger M. Mahoney recently joined a chorus of criticism against the showing of military hardware, saying it represents “glorifying weapons of destruction.”

In addition to veterans, marching bands and weaponry, the parade will feature show business personalities ranging from Bob Hope to the newly crowned “Miss Universe” to Roseanne Barr.

She will not sing the national anthem.

Welcome Home Parade

Hollywood’s Welcome Home Desert Storm Parade will start at 4 p.m. today and is expected to last about two hours. It will begin at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue and end at Bronson Avenue. A number of nearby roads will be closed for parts of today. INFORMATION AND TIPS:

FEATURES: Up to 4,000 troops back from the Persian Gulf, 2,000 veterans, military hardware from the Gulf. Flyovers by Stealth bombers and vintage planes. Hollywood celebrities. No admission charge.

PARKING: Public parking lots along Sunset and Hollywood boulevards and Vine Street. Parking costs vary. Parade-goers should arrive by about 1 p.m.; many area streets will be closed for part of the day.

REFRESHMENTS: Food and nonalcoholic beverages will be sold. Consumption of alcohol along the route is prohibited.

TOILET FACILITIES: Several hundred portable toilets will be located at most intersections along the parade route.

SEATING: Folding chairs or cushions advised.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (213) 460-5852

HOLLYWOOD FWY. CLOSURES:

Sunset Boulevard off-ramps

Closed from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

both directions.

Hollywood Boulevard off-ramps

Closed: 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Normandie Avenue on-ramp (northbound)

Closed: 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

STREET CLOSURES

Bronson Avenue

Closed: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. between Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards.

Van Ness Avenue

losed: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. between Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards.

Sunset Boulevard

Closed: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. between Serrano and Western avenues and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. between Gower Street and Western Avenue.

Entire parade route

Closed: 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at all intersecting streets between Highland and Western avenues on Sunset and Hollywood boulevards.

Assembly and disbanding area

Closed: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., several square blocks near the start and finish of the parade route from Hollywood Boulevard to the north, Western Avenue to the east, Santa Monica Boulevard to the south and Gower Street to the west.

SOURCE: Borrow/Hoffman Public Relations

Compiled by Times researcher Michael Meyers