- Title: USA: Preparations underway for the 122nd annual Tournament of Roses Parade
- Date: 29th December 2010
- Summary: WIDE SHOT OF INTERIOR OF FLOAT PREPARATION TENT VARIOUS OF FLOAT PREPARATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS GLUING SEEDS VARIOUS OF FLOATS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEILAH KELSEY, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER, SAYING: "When the volunteers get here we put them doing all kinds of different jobs, from sweeping up floors to putting on peas one at a time, grains of rice one at a time and everything in between." VARIOUS AND CLOSE UP OF VOLUNTEER ADHERING PLANTS TO FLOAT VOLUNTEERS GLUING BEANS AND SEEDS TO FLORAL MURALS VARIOUS CLOSE UPS OF BEANS BEING GLUED ONTO FLORAL MURAL INCOMPLETE MURAL BEING GLUED TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN LIGHTFOOTE, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE WEST COVINA ROSE FLOAT FOUNDATION SAYING: "The Rose Parade, in its one hundred year odd history, has been known for honoring community service and public service. For example, our floats, from West Covina, have done exactly that. And, as you say, it's not just to have a good time and to celebrate a great football game which follows the parade, but also, to do what we can, as community service organizations, to honor those people in our community who help others." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON FLORAL MURALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN LIGHTFOOTE, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE WEST COVINA ROSE FLOAT FOUNDATION SAYING: "Well, like most heroes, the heroes of 9/11 are those to whom we all look up to, in particularly to whom children look up. Many children see themselves becoming a doctor, an EMT, a police man, a fireman, motivated by the will to serve others, to serve their community and to care for their community. And that's what our float here celebrates." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER ATTACHING SMALL SEEDS VARIOUS CLOSE UPS OF MURALS FEATURED IN 9/11 HEROES TRIBUTE FLOAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY THOMSEN, PRESIDENT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIREMAN AND WELFARE, SPONSOR OF 9/11 HEROES TRIBUTE FLOAT, SAYING: "This is a dream come true for me. This is something I wanted to do for nine years and to see the float come together but more so to see the volunteers. That really is emotional to me. To see everybody that wants to be a part of this float, from just cutting a seed to putting roses on to putting the eagle's head on. This is America's float. And to see everybody come out and have the compassion to remember our heroes is definitely a dream come true for me and i appreciate everyone that's out here today. " VOLUNTEER ATTACHING LEAVES TO FLOAT COMPLETED STAR DECORATION FOR FLOAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) YURI TOBON, STUDENT VOLUNTEER, SAYING: "I think that I am going to learn that no matter how tired you may be and how much your back hurts, that, that little tiny rice that you're putting is going to make a difference." STUDENT VOLUNTEERS PUTTING TOGETHER STARS COVERED IN SHREDDED COCONUT ARTIST RENDITION OF FINISHED PRODUCT FOR HEROES IN THE MAKING, CITY OF WEST COVINA FLOAT ARTIST RENDITION OF FINISHED PRODUCT FOR 9/11 HEROES TRIBUTE FLOAT
- Embargoed: 13th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVAC1B7QJA4CGH9DPJR9O2JDZAAY
- Story Text: Dozens of volunteers and organizers gathered in tents Tuesday morning (December 28, 2010) near the Pasadena Rose Bowl in order to build the floats that will be featured in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade.
The theme selected for the 2011 parade is "Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories" and will feature various floats dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"Remember, Reflect, Renew" is one of the floats that will honor the fallen heroes of the 9/11 attacks. It is the official entry of Jerry and Merrie Thomsen, a husband a wife team who have been participating in relief efforts since the catastrophic attacks. Their float will not only feature the remains of a water hydrant that survived the attack but will also attempt to break a Guinness World Record by creating the largest floral mural.
"This is a dream come true for me. This is something I wanted to do for nine years and to see the float come together but more so to see the volunteers. That really is emotional to me," said Jerry Thomsen, President of Los Angeles County Fireman And Welfare, and sponsor of the 9/11 Heroes Tribute Float. "To see everybody that wants to be a part of this float, from just cutting a seed to putting roses on to putting the eagle's head on. This is America's float. And to see everybody come out and have the compassion to remember our heroes is definitely a dream come true for me and i appreciate everyone that's out here today," he adds.
The city of West Covina is also making an effort to connect community members to the devastating attacks. Their official entry, "Heroes in the Making," pays tribute to the first response teams who protect the country against unexpected events. The float will also be accompanied by selected community members who demonstrate early dedication to these fields.
"Well, like most heroes, the heroes of 9/11 are those to whom we all look up to, in particularly to whom children look up. Many children see themselves becoming a doctor, an EMT, a police man, a fireman, motivated by the will to serve others, to serve their community and to care for their community. And that's what our float here celebrates," says John Lightfoote, member of the board of directors for the West Covina Rose Float Foundation.
Hundreds of volunteers have come out to make the parade a success for the 122nd annual parade, and although the work can be tedious, it is worth it in the end, say volunteers.
"I think that I am going to learn that no matter how tired you may be and how much your back hurts, that, that little tiny rice that you're putting is going to make a difference," says student volunteer Yuri Tobon.
All floats featured in the Tournament of Roses Parade are sponsored by individuals or non-profit groups and must be entirely covered with plants, flowers, leaves or seeds. All arrangements on floats must be completed by New Year's Eve (December 31) The Tournament of Roses Parade will take place on Saturday, January 1, 2011. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None