Today, Saturday, March 3rd, at 11 am Laguna Beach kicks off its 41st fantastic Patriot's Day Parade, in honor of the many great patriots that have fought and given their lives in the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought on April 19th 1775. Patriot's Day is a civic holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, and although not celebrated widely in the US, it's meaning runs deep and is heartfelt among the citizens of Laguna Beach. It's meaning varies for many. As much as it is a celebration of our country's patriots, to local citizens it is also a celebration of our many great freedoms and the great country we live in. It's theme this year is "Proudly We Hail" from the National Anthem written by Francis Scott Key. The parade begins at the intersection of Short and Park avenues, continues onto Glenneyre Street and then onto Forest Avenue.
Ninety-one groups (over 4,000 participants) are marching in the 2007 Parade. Groups span the field from the US Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard to the Chocolate Lovers of America. In an ironic twist regarding the celebration of freedoms, the parade has been tinged with its own bit of controversy. The Laguna Beach Patriot's Day Commitee bylaws prohibit both political organizations and places of worship from participating in the parade, which spawned a controversy regarding freedom of speech in 1995 that is ongoing today. As quoted from the Laguna Beach Independent, longtime resident Jay Grant, a writer, preacher, and Sawdust festival manager states, "'I love the city I've lived in for 37 years. My life is my church and my community I serve and it hurts to be excluded from our comunity parade.'" The parade commitee said that it refuses to take on theological debates, and doesn't wish to participate in determining what is or is not a "real" religion.
On the political side, last year's parade involved threats of a law suit from the Minuteman project, a "self-styled border patrol run by illegal immigration opponent Jim Gilchrist", as a result of the denial of their application to march in the parade. The Minuteman project is currently embroiled in a heated lawsuit against the city of Laguna Beach regarding its day labor site permitting illegal immigrants a place to gather from which they may be hired out for work.
Joan Irvine Smith was awarded the honor of grand marshal by the Parade Committee for a lifetime of work dedicated to numerous environmental, medical, artistic and historic contributions to the community. Other Patriot's Day honoree's include Honored Patriot Larry Smith, Citizen of the Year Bree Burgess Rosen and Junior Citizens of the Year Marshall Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Trout. These five citizens are honored for their participation as current day patriots in making Laguna Beach and the surrounding areas the great community it is today.
Hi Sharon!
I am not certain, but I believe there is no direct connection between the Gilchrist's Minuteman Project and the Mintutemen your father-in-law was a part of. The "Minuteman Project" I refer to keys in specifically on the immigration issue, with a very strong stance against any and all illegal immigrants. The Minutemen group your father-in-law was in was likely far more widely distributed in political emphasis (meaning broader spectrum of issues).
The Minuteman Project led by Jim Gilchrist here in California is very controversial and heated. The labor day site which the Minuteman project has taken the city to court on was a local solution created to meet a practical need. In southern Orange County cities, illegal immigrants gather on public sidewalks and in public areas seeking and hoping to get work for the day. They are seeking an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. However, their gathering and standing about on certain public street corners has disturbed many residents in those surrounding communities. As a result, Laguna Beach organized a day labor site where workers could gather to pick up work at a place that wouldn't disturb local residents. Many of these illegal immigrants are incredibly thankful for the site. The site was provided out of a sense of concern and compassion. But the Minuteman Project, seeking to apply to letter of the law, has filed suit claiming that Laguna Beach public officials are condoning illegal immigration through providing possible work connections for these immigrants.
The Minuteman project has a valid point. But I am not certain that by taking away any opportunity for an honest day's labor that we as a society will be better off. What will the illegal immigrants do if they can not get any work at all? The theory supported by the Minuteman project is that they will migrate back to Mexico. I have my doubts about the application of this theory, however...
I doubt the Minutemen your father-in-law was a part of participated in any law suits of similar fashion... they sound more like an honorary organization that celebrated the Minutemen's great heritage.
:)