Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger Leads 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade

As the sun sparkled in the blue velvet sky above, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger smiled as he sat beside his wife. On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger had miraculously landed a US Airways jet plane on the Hudson River, thereby saving 150 passengers from disaster. This day he had been selected the Grand Marshall of the 121st Tournament of Roses Parade is Pasadena, California. The Valley Hunt Club located in Pasadena was responsible for the first Tournament of Roses Parade in 1890.

Today, on January 1, 2010, the parade had a total of 23 bands and 41 floats with millions of roses and other flowers carefully placed on the floats. The average float uses approximately 100,000 - 150,000 roses. According to the Tournament of Roses website, "Every inch of the float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds, or bark...each float is decorated with more flowers than the average florist will use in five years."

Over 200 applications are received from marching bands throughout the country hoping to be included in the Parade. Those who are selected must do their own fund-raising in order to travel to Pasadena. Bands are selected fourteen months in advance. They must march five miles the day of the Parade route and many go into training in order to accomplish that feat. One inspiring band this year was the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band. They were established in 2006 with each member having someone beside them to guide them along the route.

As the Parade continued, each float grew more impressive than the last one. The "Queen's Trophy" went to "Bayer" which has won an award each year. This year marked their 10th anniversary in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Their float depicted the Rose Bowl and was covered with thousands of breathtaking roses. At the top of the "Bowl" were about six immense roses.

The "Director's Trophy" for floral presentation went to the Province of China for Outstanding Artistic Merit. Their seven-story Pagoda was covered with a multitude of roses. Around the base and in front of the pagoda were men and women from China in their native dress along with "panda bears" all covered with different flowers.

The "Mayor's Trophy" went to the West Covina Rose Float in honor of surviving airmen from World War II. Roses and irises bedecked the float as a WWII plane "flew" in the front. A magnificent Eagle "flew" in the back of the float and wanted to soar off into the mountains of Pasadena in the near distance.

For further information on the "Tournament of Roses Parade" check out their website at www.tournamentofroses.com. Watching the Parade in high definition television is unbelievable, but seeing it in person is extraordinary.

Sources:
www.tournamentofroses.com
NBC