Marines join 11th annual Balboa Island Parade

Luis Pena

On June 6, 1944, as the D-Day amphibious landing took place to begin

the liberation of Europe, most Marines were landing and fighting on

islands in the Pacific. Sixty years later, the Marines landed on

Balboa Island -- not to invade, but to bring happiness and pride to

the local community.

Sunday was the 11th annual Balboa Island Parade, which brought out

a crowd of American flag-wavers lined up Marine Avenue and across the

bridge leading onto the island.

Treats were thrown from classic cars, and live music was performed

on the parade route by such groups as the Surfaris who played

surf-style music. The Patio Chair Drill Team performed to Kool & The

Gang’s “Celebration,” while using white patio chairs as part of its

routine. One individual really got into the festivities of the parade

by decorating a golf cart to look like the Beatles “Yellow

Submarine.” And the California Girls That Twirl entertained the

public by twirling their batons.

But this year there was something new in the parade’s lineup --

the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band. The Marine band led the parade

down Marine Avenue with applauds and cheers from onlookers.

“The folks of Balboa Island are absolutely phenomenal,” drum major

Gunnery Sgt. Charles Glimka said. “They have welcomed us with open

arms.”

Jennifer Demahy came from Tustin to see the day’s activities and

thought the parade was “wonderful,” because it had a small,

Midwestern town feel to it.

“It’s a sense of community, local people doing local things,” said

Nigel Morris of Balboa, who thought that it had a “nice” feel to it

as compared to the mall.

Erin Hurray of Newport Beach has missed only one parade during its

11-year run. She said it has gotten bigger than its first year, when

it was much more simple.

“We loved the fact that they had the Marines here,” said Balboa

resident Sheila Mardo, who thinks the parade keeps getting “better

and better.”

“We’re very proud to have them [Marines] here on D-Day,” said

Newport Beach City Councilman Steven Bromberg, who was dressed up as

a Keystone Kop.

“The Marine Corps band. What else can you say? You know they’ve

done so much for our country,” said Costa Mesa resident Shana Lawson,

attending the event for the first time.

“It was an emotional experience to see the young faces [Marines],”

Balboa Island resident Tom Sullivan said. He thanked the Marines as

they went by him.

After the parade, the military band stayed and played musical

pieces by John Phillip Sousa and a medley of big-band tunes. After

each tune, the audience applauded for more.

During the parade’s previous 10 years, the crowd would disappear

as soon as the event was over, but this year was the first time many

remained -- in part due to the Marines’ presence, Bromberg said. The

Marines were treated to lunch at by Bromberg and Steve Sutherland at

Wilma’s Patio, where the leathernecks were presented with a framed

poster of the event in honor of their participation.

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].