A Rose Parade with U.S. pride

Marianne McDaniel remembers when she emceed the annual Balboa Island Parade and saw the military band march right past where it was supposed to stop. When she looked back, she understood why.

The band finished so that a war veteran in the parade stopped before the American flag, where he stood — stiff as a flag pole, missing a foot — saluting the flag during the National Anthem.

“It’s evolved into a real patriotic, wonderful experience,� McDaniel said.

The 15th annual Balboa Island Parade, a proud Americana-themed parade, will take place June 1.

What started off as a one-time celebration over the island’s new fire department has evolved into a yearly event to celebrate the island’s small-town atmosphere.

“We make this like the Rose Bowl parade,� said Steve Bromberg, this year’s grand marshal along with McDaniel. The duo who helped create the parade are being honored.

It may be like the Rose Bowl parade in enthusiasm, but that’s likely where the comparisons stop. This parade stretches all of two music-filled, chair-flipping, band-playing, flag-saluting and hand-waving blocks.

“It’s probably the longest parade in the United States that only goes two blocks,� McDaniel said.

More than 130 displays have been scheduled, including the U.S. Marine Corps color guard, the USC Marching band, the All-American Boys Choir and the Mater Dei High School marching band, organizers said.

What gives it the small-town feel is the local touches, like the Keystone Kops and the Patio Chair Drill team, Bromberg said.

“It’s ‘Mayberry R.F.D.’ Balboa Island is like that anyway, but that’s truly what the parade is all about,� he said.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. and will last more than an hour. The parade runs down the middle of the island on Marine Avenue. The Marine Corps and the USC band will play for the audience until 2 p.m., organizers said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].