EDITORIAL: See you at the parade

We love a parade, and tomorrow Laguna Beach will have one.

The 42nd annual Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade will start marching, rolling and clip-clopping down Park Avenue promptly at 11 a.m. Saturday.

It will be a feast of color, sound and good will as the town comes together to celebrate “Stars and Stripes Forever” and enjoy Laguna’s hometown flavor.

Harry Lawrence is the Grand Marshal. Lawrence, at nearly 100 years old, has been a key player in Laguna Beach since just after World War II, in which he served as a naval intelligence officer — qualifying him to be honored for his military service to our country.

But it is his many contributions to improving and beautifying Laguna Beach for which he has received numerous accolades, including being named Citizen of the Year in 1981.

The Citizen of the Year for 2008 is Claes Andersen, who is known for his incredible generosity by hosting numerous benefit events for local school groups and other community organizations at his Hotel Laguna, a 1920s downtown landmark.

The Honored Patriot is Robert P. Meyerhof, a Bavarian immigrant who joined the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment and fought for the U.S. Army in Italy, earning him a Bronze Star as well as a combat medical badge.

Junior Citizens for 2008 are Laguna Beach High School seniors Rebekah Elizabeth Farrar and Paul Hester, selected by school officials as representing the best qualities of the young people of Laguna.

We should also recognize the volunteer efforts of the Parade Committee, especially Patriots Day President Charles Quilter II, Vice President Douglas Miller, and Treasurer Sandi Werthe, who handles many of the details that make the parade run smoothly.

There are many others who contribute to this delightful event.

If you pick up a parade program, you’ll get a full listing, plus a history of the parade and the town.

It’s said that half the town marches in the parade and the other half watches.

Whatever position you choose to take, it will be a day to celebrate American values and the spirit of inclusiveness that marks Laguna Beach.