Local heroes applauded

Barbara Diamond

“America’s Heroes” is the theme of the 2005 Patriots Day Parade, to

be held March 5.

Local heroes who were honored Sunday at the annual Parade Brunch

included 2003 Grand Marshal, Police Chief James Spreine; Patriot of

the Year, Edward L. Hanke III, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal;

Citizen of the Year, Don Williamson; Junior Citizens of the Year,

Megan Vick and Tyler Hathaway.

Also honored were those who protect, serve and defend us.

“Not since the Vietnam War, if then, have so many Lagunans served

in combat as they have in the current conflicts in Iraq and

Afghanistan,” said parade committee past chair, Charles Quilter, a

U.S. Marine Corps historian and retired pilot, who was honored as

Patriot of the Year when he returned form duty in Desert Storm in

1993.

According to the best information available to Quilter, Laguna

Beach residents Marine Lieut. Col. John Bork, Army Specialist Nick

Radich, Marine Lance corporals Vincent Ray, Ethan Slattery, Kevin

Straight and Hanke, whose ribbons include a Purple Heart, and Quilter

himself have been in service in combat zones and some have been

ordered back for second tours.

“They and all service members who are serving in harm’s way are in

our thoughts and prayers,” Quilter said.

Hanke is due to return to Iraq this summer.

“We wish you good luck and as [retired Marine Corps] Sgt. Major

Jim Law would say, ‘Keep your head down’,” Quilter said.

Thurston Middle School student Chris Reed, 11, son of Debbie Reed

and Paul Reed, won the annual Parade Program Essay Contest with a

description of heroes.

“Some heroes, I may say, are firemen, police officers and

especially the soldiers defending our country in Iraq,” Reed read

from his essay at the luncheon. “These people are just ordinary

citizens, like you and me. They have chosen to dedicate their lives

to serve our country for justice, safety and freedom.”

Past honorees at the luncheon included Patriots of the Year Don

Black, 2003; Ben and Gigi Blount, 1998; Manfred Rietsch, 1992, and

Law, 1982.

Citizen of the Year Williamson, 90, is also a hero to many in the

military.

An architect by profession, Williamson served as an engineer in

World War II and helped design the P-80, the first true jet fighter

plane.

In Laguna, he is a hero to the Festival of Arts on which grounds

he designed Tivoli Terrace and the Irvine Bowl, and to the Pageant of

the Masters, which he directed from 1964 to 1975.Also honored at the

luncheon: parade program cover artist, Laguna Beach High School

student Elliott Whalen.

The 2005 parade will begin at 11 a.m., with staging at Laguna

Beach High School.

For more information, call the parade hot line, (949) 494-6016.