Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade honors San Diego first responders. Photo: Gina Yarbrough/San Diego County News
SAN DIEGO–Thousands of spectators lined North Harbor Drive Tuesday morning to view the 26th annual Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade.
The parade, presented by San Diego County Credit Union, kicked off at 10 a.m. at the County Administration Building, and it proceeded south on North Harbor Drive and ended on West Harbor Drive, near Pacific Highway.
This year’s parade theme, “Honoring our First Responders,” was in memory of fallen San Diego Police Officer Jonathan “JD” De Guzman who was fatally shot July 28 while he and his partner, Wade Irwin conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Acacia Grove Way and 38th Street in San Diego.
The 16-year veteran was named honorary Grand Marshal of the Holiday Bowl Parade. De Guzman’s wife Jane and two children, Jedd and Amira represented him in the parade.
Other first responders honored were: the Harbor Police Honor Guard, the San Diego Police Department, the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, the County of San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the Port of San Diego Harbor Police.
About 28 gigantic balloons were filled with an helium compressor and carried by volunteers, floated past spectators along the parade route. Most notable balloons included Elvis, gingerbread man, a pirate, Horatio the Bee from Bumble Bee Seafoods, and a spaceship.
Minnesota Golden Gophers and Washington State Cougars were among two dozen marching bands participating in the parade. The two teams would later face off at Qualcomm Stadium for the Holiday Bowl game.
(See photos of parade in the Photo Gallery)
