A Santa Cruz County group named "Not This Time Vets" is expecting a crowd of at least 700 for their parade in the City of Santa Cruz this Saturday May 21 to honor U.S. military veterans who live in the county. The group's name stems from previous occasions when the community turned a cold shoulder to the military. More here from today's Santa Cruz Sentinel:

The parade is designed to honor the estimated 18,000 war veterans in Santa Cruz County and show appreciation for the men and women currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world....The military parade, organized by Not This Time Vets, is a first for the city. It stems from conflict after First Night Santa Cruz denied the group from participating in the New Year’s Eve parade.

...The parade is also a chance to break the stereotype that Santa Cruz is unbalanced politically, supporters say. It’s an opportunity to prove that Santa Cruz residents appreciate the hard work of the people who fight for the country, said Mark Nitzberg, a Not This Time Vets supporter. Nitzberg sees the parade a step toward correcting the city’s decision 15 years ago to turn away a Navy ship trying visiting the area.

"We’re an American city, but there is a certain disbelief that Santa Cruz is just one way and the town is skewed to left-wing politics," the retired UC Santa Cruz physician said. "I think the parade is a chance to give a little breath of fresh air and self respect to the people."

Mayor Mike Rotkin, who recently proclaimed a day in honor of a former Army reservist who went AWOL to avoid combat in Iraq, said he will attend Saturday’s parade. "This group has done a very good job in making it clear that they don’t want this to be a political event," Rotkin said. "Honoring the men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan ... is something I have always supported and will continue to support.

"I don’t support our country’s foreign policy and I don’t see any contradiction about that at all."

Actually, Mr. Mayor, honoring an AWOL reservist with a city proclamation strikes me as little TOO political for a unit of local government, albeit one fully suffused with a grandiose - some might say delusional - sense of purpose. But anyway, I'm glad to see that Santa Cruz, the second runner-up Leftist Moonbat Capital of Northern California (behind San Francisco and Arcata), is hosting the event. Let's hope everyone who shows up understands this is about honoring the men and women who serve; it is not a debate on Iraq or U.S. foreign policy.

The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Pacific Street in downtown Santa Cruz this Saturday, May 21. A bluegrass festival follows, at San Lorenzo Park. (I think some blues acts would have been a good addition, personally).

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at May 17, 2005 05:11 PM