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by Carla Jackson Phillips –
THE SALVATION ARMY Band marches in the Tournament of Roses Parade. |
Early on Saturday January 1, the blare of horns, the beating of drums, and the shuffling of thousands of feet were heard by scores as bands from around the world tuned up to get ready for their walk down Colorado Boulevard in the 116th Tournament of Roses Parade. And right in the middle of this glorious symphony played The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band.
It was the 86th consecutive year of the band’s appearance—an amazing feat in any circumstance, but one made even more ambitious as the band of over 200 international and national participants, coordinated by co-leaders Kevin and Jacqui Larsson of the Southern California Division, had only two days together to prepare before the big event.
Special performers this year included delegates from the Household Troops Band, a marching band that was originally formed in 1887 in England.
The theme of the 2005 Rose Parade theme was Celebrate Family, which was perfectly chosen, according to Major Paul R. Seiler, Southern California divisional commander.
“The Salvation Army and the Tournament of Roses parade are organizations that have multiple family members participating in various functions,” said Siler. “One example is Mike White. Mike has been a part of The Salvation Army family for more than five decades and started marching with his family in The Tournament of Roses Parade in 1966. Mike’s son Ryan, a music major at Cal Sate Fullerton, joined Mike with his own cornet, in the parade in 1996. It is legacies like these that continue to ‘celebrate the family.’”
