The South Orange County Vietnam Veterans is seeking Vietnam veterans and other U.S. military service veterans to march in the annual Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade returning March 14.

The organizers are seeking area veterans interested in marching in the parade. The South Orange County Vietnam Veterans has participated in this parade every year since 1985. All branches of the service are welcome, and the group is encouraging all U.S. service veterans — World War II, Korea, Cold War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria — to participate and be recognized for your service. 

Veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms (or parts thereof). The group will form near Laguna Beach High School, located at 625 Park Avenue between 9 and 10 a.m. 

The South Orange County Vietnam Veterans will be grouping up in the school district parking lot across from Laguna Beach High School.

The parade will cover about six blocks and will begin promptly at 11 a.m.. The group’s traditional annual get-together at Hennessey’s Tavern, 213 Ocean Avenue, will follow immediately.

Interested veterans should contact: Patrick Freeman at joann@lagunabeachinsurance.com or 949-497-7473.

The Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Committee recently  announced its honorees for the 59th annual parade. The event starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, in front of Laguna Beach High School and continues through the streets of downtown.

The Grand Marshal is Dick Metz. A pioneer in the sport of surfing and founder of the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, this year’s Grand Marshal, Dick Metz, has surfed around the world yet preserves his lifelong ties to Laguna Beach and continues to support its unique culture. His tales of surfing adventures in Mexico and Central America, the South Pacific, Australia and South Africa inspired the classic surf film “Endless Summer.”

The honored patriot is Commander John C. Connolly, U.S. Navy (Retired). This honor is awarded to those who have served our nation gallantly or meritoriously in times of war or national emergency. As a naval aviator flying helicopters during the Vietnam war, John Connolly rescued airmen shot down in the perilous skies then went on to lead hundreds of missions as an attack helicopter pilot, earning two Navy Commendation Medals, 16 Air Medals, and the Vietnam Air Cross of Gallantry. Connolly served for another 20 years in the naval reserve, married and raised a family, established a local law practice, and has been active in the Laguna Beach community through the American Legion and service on the board of the Pageant of the Masters.

The citizen of the year is Michael Lindsey . He began volunteering at the Niguel Botanical Preserve and later with the California Native Plant Society to preserve habitats for the state’s increasingly endangered plant species.  He helped lead the 1,200-acre Donna O’Neill Conservancy that in 2010 merged with the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy and will eventually grow to 20,000 acres. He went on to develop programs for elementary schools to get kids out into the woodlands, teaching them how plants and animals interact. 

Other honorees include:

Junior Citizens: Estella Newton and Zachary Menter . 

Artist of the Year: David Nelson

Athlete of the Year: Brian Lopes