And the march goes on

Barring a tsunami, the Patriots Day Parade will take place Saturday.

Sentiment and precedent favor marching, rain or shine, Patriots Day Parade Assn. Vice President and acting meteorologist Charles Quilter II said Wednesday. The parade has been canceled only once, in 1985, the pre-dawn decision of association President Hal Werthe, and by parade time the sun was out.

“And some of the participants marched,” Quilter said.

The U.S. Marine Corps Band has notified Quilter that they will be bringing both “dress blues” and camouflage uniforms in case it rains, but in one outfit or another they will march.

Weather reports are being posted on www.LBparade.org, but predictions are iffy until about 12 hours before the parade is due to begin at 11 a.m., Quilter said.

The parade was first held on President Washington’s birthday, celebrated at that time Feb. 22. Subsequently the event was on the Saturday between President Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays. With rain more probable in February than in March — unless there is an El Niño in progress — the date was changed to the first Saturday in March.

“But it’s still winter and rain is a possibility,” Quilter said.

The 44th annual Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m.

Marchers will head down Park Avenue from the staging area at Laguna Beach High School and the school district parking lot, make a right turn onto Glenneyre Street and another right on Forest Avenue, continuing to the reviewing stand in front of City Hall.

Parking will be prohibited on the parade route from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Programs listing the entries, honorees biographies, parade history, a chronology of the city, past honorees and the winning student essay will be available, funded by ads bought by local organizations and businesses.

The parade is the brainchild of the late Emily Ross.

A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Patience Wright Chapter in Laguna, Ross envisioned a parade that would instill a love of country and respect for the flag in the city’s youth.

The first parade was held Feb. 22, 1967. Ross was assisted by Laguna Beach Exchange Club President Roy Marcom Jr. and members of the Laguna DAR and Exchange Club.

She nurtured the parade until she moved in 1978 from Laguna to Placerville. Ross died on Memorial Day in 1989 at age 97.

The all-volunteer Patriots Day Parade Assn. carries on what Ross began.

Volunteers spend six months a year organizing the event.

Quilter, the 1993 Patriot of the Year, has joked that honorees are expected to volunteer. He served as parade chairman from 1998 to 2000, from 2002 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2009.

The parade has achieved the status of tradition, an important distinction in Laguna. Quilter has said that one half of the town marches in the parade, the other half watches.

“Freedom’s Legacy” is the theme of the 2010 parade.

“The word ‘freedom’ always figures prominently when Americans try to define our nation’s values because, indeed, it is the key to understanding our heritage and identity,” association President Michael Lyons said. “Therefore, we believe that it is important to remind ourselves that freedom is not just a simple slogan, but rather an ideal to be both cherished and protected in a rapidly changing world.

“We hope that this year’s theme will also inspire [everyone] to reflect on its meaning.”

PARADE LINEUP

Note: Parade entries should visit the check-in desk on Short Street and Park Avenue by 10:15 a.m. at the latest.

1. Laguna Beach Police Motor Escort

2. Parade Banner, Laguna Beach Girl Scouts

3. United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard, Barstow

4. 3d Marine A/C Wing Band, MCAS Miramar

5. Parade President Michael Lyons

6. Parade Theme Banner, Laguna Beach Boy Scouts

7. Grand Marshal Diane “Dee” Challis

8. American Legion Post 222/Veterans of Foreign Wars Combined Color Guard

9. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 and Auxiliary

10. Honored Patriot Dave Connell, U.S. Navy

11. South Orange County Vietnam Veterans

12. Citizens of the Year Dr. Tom Bent and Dr. Korey Jorgensen

13. Laguna Beach Community Clinic

14. Laguna Beach High School Marching Band

15. Laguna Beach Unified School District Board

16. Junior Citizens of the Year Hannah Glass and Austin Giangeruso

17. Laguna Beach High School Alumni Association

18. Southern California Peruvian Paso Horse Club

19. Laguna Beach City Council and Officials

20. Laguna Beach Unified School District Elementary Band

21. Exchange Club of Laguna Beach

22. Friends of Laguna Beach Dog Park

23. Daughters of the American Revolution, Patience Wright Chapter

24. Laguna Beach Seniors

25. Tivoli Terrace and Tivoli Too!

26. Rotary Club of Laguna Beach

27. Camp Pendleton Young Marines

28. Pacific Marine Mammal Center

29. Oaks Middle School Band, Ontario

30. Laguna Beach Little League

31. Guide Dogs for the Blind—VIP3 Puppy Raisers

32. Pageant of the Masters

33. Miss Linda’s Castle

34. The National Children’s Study

35. South Coast Y-Princesses and Y-Guides

36. San Clemente Scots Pipe Band

37. Laguna Beach Police Department

38. Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach

39. LaPlaya Center and Orange County Model A Club

40. Laguna Beach Fire Department

41. Laguna Beach Library

42. R Star Foundation

43. Orange County Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution

44. Townsend Junior High Band, Chino Hills

45. St. Catherine of Siena School

46. Kings Order of El Mysah

47. SchoolPower

48. Waste Management of Orange County

49. Laguna Beach Girl Scouts

50. Boy Scout Troop 35/Cub Scout Pack 35

51. A & D Music

52. Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce

53. Coastline Pilot

54. Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach

55. Assistance League Assisteens of Laguna Beach

56. Laguna Beach Independent

57. Kyne Dance Academy of Laguna Beach

58. Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association

59. Laguna News-Post

60. The Bunco Babes

61. Oak Avenue Middle School Band, Temple City

62. Capistrano Valley Model A Club

63. Diamond Crestview Neighbors

64. Doctor’s Ambulance

64a. Mission Hospital — Laguna Beach

65. Bassett High School Band, La Puente

66. Ebell Club of Laguna Beach

67. Excalibur Car Club

68. No Square Theatre

69. Laguna Laughter Club

70. Walter Otto

71. Laguna Beach High/Thurston Buddy Club

72. Antelope Valley High School Band, Lancaster

73. Laguna Beach Garden Club

74. Laguna Beach County Water District

75. Ralphs

76. Sawdust Art Festival

77. Ruby’s Diner

78. Hobie Sports

79. Tetzlaff Middle School Band, Cerritos

80. United Studios of Self Defense

81. Laguna Coffee Company

82. Cal Elite Kids, Rancho Santa Margarita

83. Village Laguna

84. Laguna Beach Peace Vigil

85. Fountain Valley Marching Band

86. H.I.P. District

87. Victoria Skimboards

88. AIDS Services Foundation

89. Andrus Plumbing & Heating

90. Rick Strollo

91. Honors Chorus of Top of the World and El Morro Elementary Schools

92. Laguna Beach Film Society

93. Laguna Beach Volleyball

94. Rialto Middle School Band, Rialto

95. World War II Rangers Lead the Way—Peter Salomon

96. Mel Jackson: Fitness Thru Dance and Imagination

97. Beach City Mopeds

98. Spurs & Satin