The message of gratitude, honor and respect was strong Saturday during the annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival over the weekend, which began with a VIP breakfast at 7 a.m. for returning veterans to thank them for their service.
"We Honor Our Veterans" was the theme of the four-day festivities.
KTLA TV personality Vera Jimenez called out the 25 names being honored; the veterans stood as their military record was read and then those in attendance gathered on stage for a group picture.
The message of gratitude, honor and respect was strong Saturday during the annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival over the weekend, which began with a VIP breakfast at 7 a.m. for returning veterans to thank them for their service.
"We Honor Our Veterans" was the theme of the four-day festivities.
KTLA TV personality Vera Jimenez called out the 25 names being honored; the veterans stood as their military record was read and then those in attendance gathered on stage for a group picture.
This Strawberry Days Festival, which includes Memorial Day, was to give special thanks to the service men and women and their families, for their heroism and a salute for making America a safer place to live for all of us as Americans.
We are free, because of all of those who serve America for the cause of freedom; Memorial Day is one of the days that brings this vision into full focus for all of us who live and continue to live in freedom.
A message for our men and women in service: We remember those who have served our country, including those who gave their lives for our freedom, Thank you for your honorable service —we salute your service and pray for the men and women who have given and continue to give, their service for our freedom —
we celebrate the soldiers who serve and help us be able to continue to uphold our traditions.
Thank you.
At 8 a.m. sharp, a 5K run/stomp began on Historic Main Street with a packed crowd in attendance.
"The Sister City Association is committed to better cultural relations," said Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen. "For many, this is a once-in-a-life-time experience. May the best 'stomper' win," he said with a smile.
On a serious note, Nguyen noted that Garden Grove not only honors its heritage at this time of year with the Strawberry Festival, but its agricultural heritage and roots as well.
"The stomp is how we raise money for our sister-city organization; this is so wonderful; and participating in the stomp, you get to see parts of the city you don't see while driving in your car," he said.
The annual parade of floats, vintage vehicles, bands and organizations began at 10 a.m. Saturday and lasted for more than two hours along Euclid Street.
Parade Theme Grand Marshal was Lt. Col Patricia Murray and the Parade Celebrity Grand Marshal was Sally Kellerman.
Lt. Col Murray serves with the California Air National Guard; she has a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University and used her Miss California 1992 scholarship to pursue a career in commercial aviation.
She was recruited by the California Air National Guard to fly the C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft and awarded the Commanders Trophy at military pilot training graduation.
Murray flies as a Lt. Col and instructor pilot for the California Air National Guard in the 115th Airlift Squadron. She has flown six tours of duty in the Middle East, been awarded five flying Air Medals and named 2010 California Air National Guard Field Grade Officer of the Year. She holds an MS in Military Science and Operational Art and is a director on the Disabled Veterans Charities board and has flown 15 years as a pilot for American Airlines.
Kellerman is an acting celebrity for nearly 60 years, which includes her role as "Hot Lips" in the movie M.A.S.H., and a role in the IFC comedy series, "Maron."
She earned nominations for Oscar and a Golden Glove Awards and was recently nominated for an Emmy for "The Young and the Restless," and is an accomplished singer and her memoir, "Read My Lips," is currently in bookstores.
The Strawberry Festival began in1958, when the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce organized the first Garden Grove Strawberry Festival as a way to bring both the east and west sides of Garden Grove together.
The first event celebrated the area’s many strawberry fields and was held in the Brookhurst Triangle area that borders Garden Grove Boulevard, Brookhurst Street and Brookhurst Way.
After the first year, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association (a non-profit organization), was formed and the festivities were moved to the Garden Grove Park and remains today as a charitable event benefiting local organizations, through which, more than $4.5 million has been donated to hundreds of non-profits.
The 1959 Strawberry Festival was the first time there was a parade, which had a line of antique cars but no floats nor bands, as there was this year, along Chapman Avenue to Euclid Street.
On the Green, there were many rows of booths with a wide variety of items to purchase and browse and lots of food booths from the delectable strawberry treats at the Jobs Daughter's booth, to super-sized hot dogs and hamburgers.
And, there were contests where a Tiny Tots King and Queen were named and a Senior King and Queen were selected for their volunteerism, along with the Berry Berry Beautiful Baby Contest and the Redhead Roundup Contest.
Miss Garden Grove Shannon Galipault, 19, and her court and Miss Garden Grove Outstanding Teen Josie Pearce, 17, reigned over the festivities as part of their elected duties.
