Rancho Bernardo Holds the 40th Annual Spirit of the Fourth Celebration

For the fortieth year, Rancho Bernardo celebrated the 4th of July with its all day festivities - community fair, car show, Kiwanis Club of Poway pancake breakfast, VIP Reception, and parade, followed by an evening of food, entertainment and fireworks.  The national anthem was provided by the RB Children’s Chorus and Praising Hands Signing Choir before the Veterans Memorial Service.  Beauty  queens, high school marching bands, and twirlers wowed the crowd on the parade route.

VIP Reception hosts local dignitaries

Festooned with red, white, and blue balloons and with good cheer abounding, Rancho Bernardo’s annual VIP Reception drew more than 200 residents and a bevy of elected officials including our Congressman, Assemblyman, and the Mayor of San Diego.  The Reception, which is part of RB’s annual Independence Day celebration, honored donors who gave $125 for admission for two to the reception hosted by the San Diego National Bank, shaded seating for the parade, and preferential parking at the parade and at the evening fireworks display.

Dignitaries at the event in order of appearance were: Charlene Zettel, a board member of the San Diego Airport Authority and a UC Regent, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, an Assistant Minority Leader of the State Assembly; Mark Pettine, Chief Deputy of the District Attorney’ office, representing District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis; City Councilman Carl DeMaio; Congressman Duncan Hunter; newly appointed County Sheriff Bill Gore; and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. The reception was coordinated by Marty Judge.

Tom Richards, president of RB’s Independents Day celebration for seven years, was haled by Councilmen DeMaio for his accomplishments in tripling the event’s budget during his tenure and creating a more elaborate and fun offering to residents.

Parade honors Independence Day

The Spirit of the Fourth parade featured more than 75 entries who enjoyed the mild weather and off-shore breeze as they circled Acenda, Rancho Bernardo Road, and Bernardo Center before ending at the San Diego National Bank.  Highlights included the Ronald McDonald House with Ronald himself on microphone, Falun Dafa Folk Drum March and Fan Dance, Dr. Bruce Baker’s circus themed entry, Smart Car entry from the Rancho Bernardo Community Council, Al Bhar Shriners Tin Lizzies model cars, and the Rancho Bernardo Winery Jazz band and mobile grape stomp float.
The parade opened with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Horse Detachment (Blackhorse Soldiers ), followed by Rancho Bernardo’s own Fire Station 33 engine.   Boy Scouts carried the day, with the Spirit of the Fourth banner was carried by Cub Scout Troop 621 and the Grand Marshal, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, being led on the route by Cub Scout & Webelos Pack 685 of Turtleback Elementary School.

A Tin Lizzie zooms along the route of the Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the Fourth Parade. Photo courtesy Marla Cruz.

A plethora of color guards honored our military members on Independence Day; the US Air Force, the US Coast Guard, Orange Glen High School, the US Navy, the National Guard, US Marine Corps, and the Westview Navy Junior ROTC color guards all participated.  Civil Air Patrol Squadron 144 of San Diego fielded an entry of youth ages 12-18, VFW Post 7766 of Rancho Bernardo, the San Diego State Univeristy Student Veterans Association, Marines Corps League Bulldog Detachment 835, and a convoy of Marine Humvees carried Rancho Bernardo’s Medal of Honor recipients while National Guard Humvees honored Service Cross recipients.

Elected officials participating in the Spirit of the Fourth parade included:  Grand Marshal and State Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher; San Diego’s 34th Mayor, the Honorable Jerry Sanders; US Congressman Duncan Hunter; US Congressman Brian Bilbray; City Councilmember Carl DeMaio; the Poway Unified School District’s Andy Patapow, Todd Gutschow, Jeff Mangum, and Linda Vanderveen; and RB Honorary Mayor, Kory DeMeulenaere.

Fireworks are the Highlight of the Night

Residents of Rancho Bernardo and surrounding communities filled the athletic fields of Rancho Bernardo High School and Bernardo Heights Middle School Saturday evening to share in a celebration of liberty, patriotism and family fun.  They feasted on a variety of local cuisine, including sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers, tasty schwarma, warm funnel cake, Italian ice, sweet kettle corn and Carvel ice cream.  Entertainment was provided again this year by Tom and Shondra, former residents of Rancho Bernardo who make the trek from Sedona, AZ each year to provide the music and act as master of ceremonies.  Local resident Melanie Joe Marron- fresh off of her performance at the San Diego Fair -also performed a set list of country favorites. A fifteen minute fireworks presentation ended the evening, with a grand finale that left the bright-eyed crowd content and the children wanting more. For the first time, donations were accepted at the door.  In turn, the event made a significant step forward toward hosting next year’ event.   The Spirit of the Fourth graciously thanks those who contributed so generously.

The Spirit of the Fourth gives special thanks to the the RB High School Key Club and local veterans hired through www.hirepatriots.com who provided special logistical support, the restaurants who donated food for the VIP reception (Casa de las Campanas, Café Merlot, Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, Courtyard by Marriott, Hooters, and the Rancho Bernardo Inn), the  food vendors at the festivities (Café Merlot, RB Inn, Souplantation, and Hooters).

The community of Rancho Bernardo looks forward to seeing you next year for our forty-first annual celebration.  For more information or to make a donation for next year’s celebration, please visit www.spiritofthefourth.org or email spiritofthefourth@gmail.com.

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Tags: parade, Rancho Bernardo, RB, SDNN, Spirit of the Fourth, VIP Reception

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