Carroll, Crystal

El Segundo High Flowers Up the Rose Parade

This year’s Rose Parade theme was “Music, Music, Music,” and El Segundo’s Key Club and Interact Club were able to be a part of building and creating the floats that made this annual event happen. With the exception of freezing while inside the huge warehouse working on the giant floats, it was fun to be around so many other eager people who wanted to create something to give the new year of 2004 a prosperous and cheerful start. It is one thing to watch the floats riding down the street on television, but to actually be there making the colors come alive by hand is something that not very many people get to say that they have done.

The Tournament of Roses Parade began in 1890 because people of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club wanted to show other cities that Los Angeles could have bright flowers even during wintertime. During the first parade, 2,000 people gathered to watch horse drawn carriages decorated with flowers stroll down the town street. After a few years, the parade included motorized floats and marching bands, which became very popular. This caused the festival to form the Tournament of Roses Association.

This year’s parade gathered an overwhelming 800,000 dedicated spectators, despite the terrorist threats, tight security, and 40 degree weather. The Rose Parade has come a long way since it began in 1890. It even takes almost a year to construct floats, which are built by professional building companies. Now, millions of viewers are able to watch this event all over the world.

While working on the floats, many found it hard to keep warm, despite the many layers of clothing they wore. MaryGrace Bucao, one of the key clubbers who joined in on the decorating, said, “It was freezing cold. We got to put seeds and clover leaves on the floats. It was fun after I started getting the feeling back into my hands. I got to go up high to decorate, but mostly, I stayed on the ground. My group got to work on Kiwanis’ float with a girl, tree and flowers. For the most part, I really enjoyed being with my friends and helping out.” Besides working on the floats, a former El Segundo High School student was able to perform in the parade as well. This year’s parade featured the USC and Michigan marching bands. The USC band was led by Taylr Takagi (Class of 2003), who is one of the baton twirlers.

The Tournament of Roses Parade is definitely an enjoyable occasion to be a part of. As for Interact and Key Club, they know how to start the New Year right. The parade is just one of the events that both clubs attend. Their wonderful collaboration enables many ESHS students to help out the community and have fun at the same time. If you want to help make a difference to those around you and be with friends as well, come join Interact and Key Club. The more, the merrier!