The Seal Beach Lions Club is proud to announce its 2014 Grand and Junior Grand Marshals. It is the 36th anniversary of the event, which takes place from Ocean Avenue to Pacific Coast Highway down the three blocks of Main Street in Seal Beach.
The parade starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5.
Steve Meier’s family has owned Clancy’s Saloon since 1957. His family, and Meier personally, have been a constant supporter of local causes throughout the businesses’ history in the town. Based on his perpetual community involvement he was chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the 2014 Seal Beach Christmas Parade.
Meier is known for being an active, yet often unseen donor to a variety of causes. He has been a constant supporter of the Seal Beach Lions Club and regularly donates in ways both large and small to many charities, including the St. Baldrick’s children’s cancer fundraising event that is held at Hennessey’s Tavern on Main Street, the Special Olympics of Southern California and breast cancer walks. Meier grew up in Seal Beach and has raised his two sons in the seaside city.
As an active community member, he has remained one to always lend a helping hand, although for most of the time, he has been an unsung hero among his fellow citizens.
“We take different slices out of the American pie that is Seal Beach each year for our Grand Marshal,” said Seal Beach Parade Chairman for the Seal Beach Lions Club, Scott Newton. “This year is exciting because Steve has been under the radar for years and now, it is his turn to be recognized for his giving and service.”
Also having been chosen is the parade’s Junior Grand Marshal, who people refer to as “the incredible Jennifer Lang.”
Lang has been recognized for her many hours of service, almost 1,500 over the last 2 years and more than 4,000 over the last 7 years. Some of the awards she has received include the Congressional Award Silver and Gold Medals, The President’s “Call to Service” Lifetime Award, The President’s Volunteer Gold Medal, and the International Leo of the Year. In addition to these awards, Lang was one of three Orange County award recipients of the “Teen Recognition Award” and was a Voice of Democracy winner for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Lang has been a beacon of service for many young Leos and even Lions. Her conviction to support the blind by raising seeing eye dogs (she is on her second), working to build a homeless shelter for women and children in our nearby community, to getting clothing and donations to assist Filipinos that lost everything to super typhoon Haiyan, her spirit of giving and service is unquestionable.
The selection process for the marshal positions of the Seal Beach Christmas Parade is done in collaboration with a nomination process via the Lions Club and also the City of Seal Beach. Nominations may be accepted by any member of the Seal Beach Lions Club and turned in to the parade chairman to be included in a vote by the executive team of the Christmas Parade event. Nominees must live, work or serve in the Seal Beach community with exceptional dedication and passion.
The club maintains that the marshals fit well with the city’s image as being “Mayberry by the Sea,” with both the theme of unsung heroes and the idea of childlike wonder.
Nearly 3,000 participants in just over 100 entries entertain approximately 17,000 spectators along the three-block stretch of Main Street from the Pier to Pacific Coast Highway. As a continuous motion parade, entries perform the entire parade route to offer all spectators a grand holiday experience.
For more information on the parade, applications and information may be found at www.sealbeachchristmasparade.com The parade is almost full, so if you want to get an entry in, do so today.
