Sonoma celebrates Independence Day
By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Shiny red fire trucks, marching bands and even clowns rolled past Caitlin Benson on Monday at Sonoma’s Independence Day
Army Capt. Chris Jones helps carry a large American flag with members of the Native Sons of the Golden West during Sonoma's 4th of July Parade at the Sonoma Plaza on Monday, July 4, 2011. (BETH SCHLANKER/ PD)
parade.
But her favorite?
“I like the Kung Fu guys,” said the 4-year-old from Henderson, Nev., marveling at a group of martial arts students who had just marched past. “They’re neat.”
She was among thousands who crowded around the historic downtown plaza to usher in the nation’s 235th birthday with the traditional parade, an Air Force fly-over, barbecues and later, fireworks.
With temperatures in the 90s, people jockeyed for shade, some setting up the night before under towering trees with ice chests and tables of food.
See more photos from the parade.
Others just toughed it out, slathering on sunscreen and sipping cold beer as the procession made a lazy loop around town.
Shawn Morrison of Sonoma was up at 6 a.m., erecting the canopy on First Street that kept his family comfy while they watched the parade, ate and drank.
“My job is to bring all the chairs and coolers,” Morrison said as his wife Heather and son Sawyer, 2, enjoyed the festivities. “They come along a few hours later and have fun.”
Steve Miller of Boyes Hot Springs found a shady spot beside a bush for his dog, Roxy, who had a red, white and blue bandana tied around her neck.
He and his girlfriend Natalie Lombardo threw down a blanket and water bowl and took it all in.
“This is classic Americana, small-town stuff,” he said. “It’s great.”
The grandson of a famous World War II leader said it was exactly that feeling that brought his grandfather there.
Robert Arnold of Glen Ellen said his grandfather, the late Gen. Hap Arnold — the namesake of Arnold Drive and an airfield — picked Sonoma as his retirement spot after a career spent among “self-important” Washington types.
“He enjoyed the town so much because of all these real people,” said the grandson, waving an arm to the families picnicking in the plaza. “You can’t make this stuff up. It’s amazing.”
And yet the event in the town known for wine tourism wasn’t so small.
City Councilman Ken Brown estimated about 12,000 people were there. Even more were expected to attend nighttime fireworks over Gen. Vallejo’s home.
The event featured a fly-over from a C-17 transport plane from Travis Air Force Base. Mayor Laurie Gallian said it flew at an altitude of 1,000 feet at about 230 knots or 264 mph.
To put it further in perspective for local wine enthusiasts, Gallian said the large plane had enough cargo space to hold 4,904 cases of wine.
“That was impressive,” the mayor said.
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