Sgt. Winston promoted to grand marshal

Everyone has been talking about Taylor Winston, the former Marine who commandeered a truck to drive victims to the hospital after the mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1.

The Ocean Beach resident, credited with saving multiple lives, is not only looked upon as a national hero, but a local one as well.

Days after the news spread, the community had already — and overwhelmingly — nominated him as grand marshal for the annual O.B. holiday parade, with this year's theme being “California Dreamin’ in the Season of Love.”

“When the news started coming out about an Obecian saving lives in Las Vegas, my wife turned to me and said, ‘grand marshal,” Marcus Turner, VP of the Ocean Beach Town Council told me. “It’s an honor we bestow from the community to a person that has gone above and beyond to do things for others, those who commit selfless acts…because this very much represents who we are as a community.”

Winston will be riding in a pickup truck, third in the parade lineup. Along the parade route, the announcer will be pointing out the grand marshal.

“If the opportunity for me to speak a few words is there, I would like to,” the somewhat reserved woodworker told me. “I’m not nervous at all. I think it’ll be nice to ride, wave, smile, hug some people, and say some good things.”

Using his skills as a woodworker, Winston created Route 91 keychains with all proceeds going to the Las Vegas Victims Fund.

“Route 91 is the name of the music festival where the massacre happened,” he said. “I’ve got 6000 keychains made, but the goal is to sell 10,000 of them and hopefully have a 50-70k check to donate to the fund.”

The 38th Annual OB Holiday Parade will begin at 5:05 p.m. on December 2nd and follow the usual path down Newport Avenue.