Torrance Brings “Lucky Louie” back to life

It’s only a few days away … NEW YEARS DAY 2015!   

And what do most people do on New Years Day ???   Hunker down and watch theTournament of Roses Parade, of course!!!

This years theme ” Inspiring Stories” got the Torrance Rose Float Association thinkingCity of Torrance..We have our own “Home Town Hero” …Mr Louis Zamperini!  He lived in Old Torrance growing up and was on the track team for Torrance High School. He was known as the “Torrance Tornado” and helped to create a world-wide name for the City of Torrance during the 1936 Olympics.

Torrance's HomeTown Hero

On Sunday evening, I was priviliged to host a bus of Torrance officials as we drove up to the Fiesta Floats barn in Irwindale.  With 190 of us, we toured the area checking out the progress of the 10 floats that Fiesta has designed.  The Torrance decorators were hard at work cutting, gluing and setting the seeds, flowers, petals, berries and flakes.  It takes many volunteers to “dress the float” so we can see it “floating down” Colorado Blvd.

Louis Zamperini’s Family will represent him as the Grand Marshall of the 2015 Rose Parade.  The City of Torrance’s Float ” Louis Zamperini -A Race Well Run”  will follow.

It’s always amazing to see the float transformation ..

Carol with Roseanne Villalobos, President of TRFA
Carol with Roseanne Villalobos, President of TRFA

from this to this!

Photos of Louis Zamperini in seeds and flowers - courtesy of the Torrance Rose Float Assn
Photos of Louis Zamperini in seeds and flowers – courtesy of the Torrance Rose Float Assn

 

May the city of Torrance continue the Tradition!

 

Float2015 - courtesy of the Torrance Rose Float Assn
Float2015 – courtesy of the Torrance Rose Float Assn