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"Big news!" Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson tweeted. "We are
throwing a parade for our 3 hometown heroes!" He used the hashtag
"#SacramentoProud."
The state capital will strike up the bands for student Anthony
Sadler, 22, Spencer Stone, a 23-year-old U.S. airman, and National
Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, 22. The men grew up in the Sacramento
area, attended middle and high school together and have remained
friends.
They were touring Europe, partly to celebrate Skarlatos' return from
a tour of duty in Afghanistan, when they saw the gunman, who was
armed with a box cutter, a pistol and a Kalashnikov AK-47 assault
rifle.
When they saw him cocking the rifle, they said they had no choice
but to react.
Sacramento, parts of which are still suffering from the financial
crisis, has been buzzing with pride for the Americans ever since.
"I hope it's a parade to end all parades, Mr. Mayor," Bill Bird, a
spokesman for the senate's top Republican, Bob Huff, tweeted in
response to Johnson, a Democrat.
"Finally," tweeted another conservative, who used the name LVN
Nancy. "Something to be proud of in California."
Johnson's chief of staff, Daniel Conway, said the parade was being
organized and details would soon be announced.
At Sacramento State University, where Sadler is a senior, president
Robert S. Nelsen said he looked forward to thanking the kinesiology
major in person when he returns to class.
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French President Francois Hollande bestowed France's highest honor
on Monday on the three Americans along with a Briton who helped
disarm the suspected Islamist militant.
Stone, whose thumb was almost severed by the attacker, has also been
credited with saving the life of another passenger who had been shot
and was bleeding profusely.
Air Force Secretary Deborah James said Stone's unit was nominating
him for the Air Force's highest medal for non-combat bravery.
California Governor Jerry Brown tweeted on Saturday, "Proud of the
brave Californians who helped prevent yesterday's attack in France &
saved countless lives."
(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Additional reporting by Bill Trott;
Editing by Toni Reinhold)
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