Marching In The Tournament Of Roses Parade

Thursday, December 28th 2006, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

One parent called it thrilling and a once in a lifetime opportunity, a trip to California to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade. That thrilling opportunity is just ahead for 10 Tahlequah High School students who are part of the Centennial all-star Band.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells says the kids have big plans for their big moment.

Monday morning, the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade will roll down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California. Leading the way, the 150-member Oklahoma Centennial all-star band.

They've been practicing since last summer, practicing hard. Daniel Dew: "a 13 hour rehearsal is one day is kind of insane but it pays off in the end." And the pay off, is the Rose Bowl Parade.

Dew is a junior at Tahlequah High School. He and some of his band mates are waiting for their plane at Tulsa International Airport, making small talk and talking about the flight. Ten of the 150 band members are from Tahlequah, the most of any school.

Blanche Sumner, another Tahlequah High School junior says she hopes Oklahomans will watch. â€œI want them to be proud that Oklahoma can have such a good marching group." You know the old saying about all work and no play. Daniel Dew: "We get to go to the beach I know that for sure. We're going to Universal Studios."

And lots of rehearsing, in fact, rehearsals start at 3 AM the day of the parade, work yes, but a great chance.

Band parent Shanon Ogden: "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for all these 150 kids."

The parade is New Years Day morning. Oklahoma has the band and two floats in the parade. HGTV is carrying it with Tulsa's own Paul James as one of the commentators and

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor will lead a delegation of Tulsans in California for the parade.