Jerry Lewis to Be Redlands 125th Anniversary Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal

Former Congressman Jerry Lewis will be the Grand Marshal for the Redlands 125th Anniversary Veterans’ Day Parade slated for Monday, Nov. 11 in downtown Redlands. Congressman Lewis was the first choice request from Joe McGinn, Commander of American Legion Post 106, and Ron “Gator” Riley, Commander of Post 650. The 125th Anniversary Parade Committee was unanimous in their support of the selection. The rationale expressed by all parties for the selection is based on Congressman Lewis’ 30 years of service in government that resulted directly in better defense capabilities and a better life for veterans. Making him the Grand Marshal will give area veterans, and the community at large, an opportunity to express appreciation to him directly as he passes along the parade route. Jerry Lewis represented the Inland Empire region in the State and Federal Government for over 30 years and was Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, responsible for all federal discretionary spending, for 2005 and 2006. Prior to taking over the full committee chair, Congressman Lewis headed the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee from 1999 to 2005. The defense panel oversees the $500 billion Pentagon budget—nearly half of all funds appropriated by Congress. Supported by the strong appropriation tradition of bi-partisanship, Lewis led the committee in restoring the nation’s defense spending after two decades of decline. His bills increased military pay by 25%, eliminated all housing costs for members of the armed forces, and funded “health care for life” programs for the first time. From 1995–1999, Lewis was the chairman of the VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee, responsible for funding federal housing, veterans affairs, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, among other federal agencies. While heading this committee, he reduced spending on wasteful programs by $40 billion, and beefed up funding for oversight that uncovered fraud and abuse in many large housing programs. Throughout his career, Congressman Lewis has been proud of the Appropriations Committee’s role in solving problems. He has led efforts to provide relief for victims of terrible earthquakes and fires in California. His leadership resulted in the construction of the Seven Oaks Dam and the planning and funding for the Santa Ana River Wash flood control. His colleagues have supported the revolutionary cancer treatment center at Loma Linda University that has saved thousands of lives. He gained funding to convert two former Air Force bases into successful employment centers. He takes pride in his efforts in support of expediting the production of the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, now the primary weapon against Al Qaeda. Lewis is a former member of the California Assembly, where he wrote legislation establishing the South Coast Air Quality Management District to cure Southern California smog, and authored the Child Development Act of 1972, which became a national model for innovative childcare programs. Congressman Lewis is a proud alumnus of UCLA—receiving the UCLA Medal in 1997 and the Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year Award in 2006. Lewis and his wife, Arlene, live in Redlands and have seven children and eight grandchildren. The Veterans Day Parade will start at 9:00 a.m., Monday, November 11th, at the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Citrus Avenue. The parade route will proceed west on Citrus to Eureka Street, go north on Eureka to State Street, continue west on State to Texas Street, north on Texas to Redlands Boulevard, and march west on Redlands to Jennie Davis Park (New York Street). There will be a short ceremony at the Park in observance of Veterans Day, followed by a picnic with food trucks and a beer garden, presented by the two Redlands American Legion Posts. Bleacher seating to watch the parade will be available on Citrus Avenue between Orange and Eureka Streets. For information please call Sam Irwin at 909-798-7531 or go to www.redlands-events.com.