Parade veteran decorated with first-place prize

Dave Brooks

Doris Chambers has watched the Huntington Beach Fourth of July parade

through four American wars, nine U.S. presidents and 50 Miss

Huntington Beach finalists.

The Main Street artist has never missed a parade since she moved

into her 1000 block home in 1954, and this year her loyalty and

talent were rewarded with a first-place prize in the Patriotic Home

Tour.

“It’s really neat to win the award this year during the centennial

celebration of the parade,” she said from her home, where she lives

with her husband Stan Chambers. “I would put the decorations out no

matter what, but of course it’s great to win.”

Doris Chambers won the award for best decorated home on Main

Street with several wooden displays of patriotic symbols including a

replica of the Statue of Liberty. She has also fabricated several

displays portraying Uncle Sam, an eagle and giant fireworks. To

celebrate this year’s centennial of the Fourth of July parade,

Chambers created a gigantic wooded birthday cake in honor of the

anniversary.

“A lot of people come from out of town to see the parade, but this

is really an event for the people who live in Huntington Beach,” she

said. “Every year, there are always a lot of talented people on the

street.”

Two judges are usually dispatched to Main Street to pick the

winner of the Patriotic Home Tour, Fourth of July organizer Connie

Young said.

“What they’re looking for is patriotic spirit, lots of color and

original decorations,” Young said. “The two judges had no idea that

Doris was celebrating 50 years of watching the parade. That was just

an added bonus.”

Chambers said she will continue to host family at her house each

year on the Fourth of July because she feels it’s one of the last

remaining sanctities of the America she grew up in.

“There’s a lot of talk on the local news about terrible things

that have happened at past Huntington Beach parades, but that was

years ago,” she said. “This is a great event, and I always feel safe

and have a good time.”