Pumped up for parade day

Laguna Beach will be a flurry of red, white and blue Saturday, when the 43rd annual Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade gets underway at 11 a.m.

The parade begins at Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Ave., and proceeds north on Glenneyre Street, to Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. The parade takes about two hours from start to finish.

Ninety-two organizations and businesses will be in the march, which celebrates patriotism and unity. Equestrians, military and school bands, vintage cars, floats, clowns, and a host of people of all ages will march for fun and also vie for trophies, cheered on by those lining the streets.

It is said that “half the town marches in the parade and the other half watches.”

The theme for this year’s parade is “From Many “” One.”

“Our theme for 2009 is adopted from the original Latin motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum,” according to the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Assn.

“Dating from 1782, the motto appears on our nation’s Great Seal as well as on our coins and currency. Its original meaning reflected the union of the many colonies and states into one nation. We believe that today this theme also aptly expresses how many diverse peoples in our land have come together to form a single people and nation.”

Grand Marshal is Frank Mickadeit, columnist for the Orange County Register.

Honored Patriot is Don Segner, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict and a pioneer test pilot. Citizens of the Year are Lisa and Ed Sauls of the Laguna Relief and Resource Center.

Laguna Beach High School seniors Rachel Busic and Ryan Lawler are Junior Citizens of the Year. Cox3 will tape the parade for broadcast at a later date. The parade broadcast will also be available free on “Cox on Demand.”

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachparade.org.