Posted on Fri, Sep. 03, 2010

The Lions Club of Cambria’s annual Pinedorado Parade usually has one or two honoree marshals.

This morning, there will be nearly four dozen grand marshals.

The Lions and American Legion Post No. 432 are honoring what’s been dubbed “The Greatest Generation” and issued a call to veterans so they could be recognized “in honor of your patriotic service during World War II and to celebrate your accomplishments and preservation of the freedoms we all enjoy.”

All the marshals are World War II military veterans or those who contributed in “Rosie the Riveter” fashion on the home front.

The co-grand marshals will be right behind another Pinedorado Parade first: a marching band from the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.

About 30 Marine musicians will also give a concert at noon in the Veterans Memorial Building parking lot.

Pinedorado was created by the Lions Club of Cambria in 1949 as a fundraiser to pay for what’s now the Memorial Building. To this day, the three-day festival, cherished by parade-viewers, game players, diners and art, music and classic-car lovers lovers, is staffed by volunteers from many nonprofit groups with proceeds going to many good causes.

Also new at this year’s Pinedorado is a public safety fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the Memorial Building.

A CHP helicopter is expected, along with fire trucks, ambulances, squad cars, a State Parks canine unit and other equipment from the county sheriff’s office, Cal Fire, Cambria Fire Department, Cambria Community Healthcare District, North Coast Ocean Rescue team, Community Emergency Rescue Team, Caltrans and Red Cross.

While the focus falls on the safety of the community on Monday, this morning crowds lining the parade route will say “thank you” to those who ensured the safety of the country in a war that ended 65 years ago.

Experiences of those who will ride in honor include:

• Merchant Mariner Bob Harmsen, who served on a Liberty Ship that was the only one of seven in a convoy that made it across the Pacific to the Philippines. “When you’re 17 years old, you think you’re immortal,” he said. “Something like that wakes you up in a hurry.”

• Navyman Jerry Levitz recalls sneaking some ice cream from the mess hall of a destroyer just before a kamikaze pilot crashed his plane into the ship. The collision blew a large hole in the hull mere feet away from Levitz, who was trapped and partially burned.

• Army Sgt. Art James remembers the Rhine River in Germany “running red with the blood” of wounded and dying servicemen.

• Bob McDonald, an Army welder who served in the Panama Canal Zone, said, “I remember not getting shot and not having to kill anyone.”

• Philip Mayer, a Marine Corps demolition man, says, “We’re not heroes. We’re just lucky.”

Not heroes? Sure they are. And today Cambria takes the opportunity to thank them.

Pinedorado highlights

A complete schedule is online at http://bit.ly/pinesked

Today

7 to 10 a.m. Waffle breakfast, Joslyn Recreation Center, 950 Main St.

9:30 a.m. Main Street parade begins in East Village, goes to West Village

Noon 1st Marine Division band concert, 1000 Main St.

Noon to 6 p.m. Pinedorado grounds food and game booths

7:30 p.m. Pinedorado Follies, 1000 Main St.

Sunday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pinedorado grounds food and game booths open

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Car show

7:30 p.m. Pinedorado Follies, 1000 Main St.

Monday

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pinedorado grounds food and game booths open

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Public safety fair, 1000 Main St.