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 the Tournament of Roses Parade, of course!!!

This years theme ” Inspiring Stories” got the Torrance Rose Float Association thinking ..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.

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 ..

from this

to this!

May the city of Torrance continue the Tradition!