Marines lead A Patriotic Christmas parade

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce enjoyed tremendous success with over 120 entries in their 31st Annual Christmas Parade held on Dec. 1.

The theme this year was designated as “A Patriotic Christmas” and featured Grand Marshals from the Wounded Warriors Battalion West, 11 marching bands, including the 1st Marine Marching Band and the House of Scotland Bagpipe band.

The USMC Color Guard led off the parade with the 1stMarine Division Marching Band followed by representatives of the Marine Corps commanding officer and the Naval Weapons Station Detachment Director Anthony Winicki and Captain Deb Schroder of the CHP.

To assist the Chamber in transporting the many other parade officials and dignitaries, the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club supplied a host of vintage vehicles including convertibles to carry Marine Colonel Michael Cordero and his wife Joan, Lt. Todd Richardson of the Fallbrook Sheriff substation, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, and North County Fire Chief Bill Metcalf and his wife Dotty.

Members of the Wounded Warriors Battalion West were transported by vehicles borrowed from the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum on Camp Pendleton, as well as a few privately owned vehicles, and were decorated by the FHS cheerleaders at the local VFW.

The variety of parade entries included fire trucks from Fallbrook and Rainbow Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as floats prepared by schools, churches, charitable and business organizations.

Local girl scouts and boy scouts, cub packs and youth sports teams were represented along with drill teams and association groups that walked the entire parade route.

Also sprinkled in among the participants were the Chamber President of the Board Gary Shimer, Citizen of the Year Janet LuCore, Fallbrook’s Honorary Mayor Leo Romero, Miss Fallbrook Lexi Houk and her court, Snoopy of Knott’s Berry Farm and, of course, bringing up the rear was Santa Claus and all his reindeer.

The People’s Choice distinction is decided in the VIP section in front of the Chamber of Commerce office, and was awarded to Calvary Chapel Fallbrook.