UPDATE: The 137th Rose Parade in Pasadena witnessed a heartwarming display of resilience as float riders braved a torrential downpour on January 1, 2025. Survivors of the recent fires, riding the “Rising Together” float, described the experience as a powerful reminder of community spirit amid adversity.
Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, shared her emotional reflections as she faced the rain. “After all we’ve been through this year, a torrential rainstorm felt like nothing,” she stated. “If anything, it was a reminder that we are still here. And somewhere along the way, we are becoming tough as nails.”
The float, created by the California Community Foundation and Black Freedom Fund, not only won the Fantasy Award for creativity but also served as a poignant tribute, featuring a phoenix surrounded by roses inscribed with the names of fire victims. “As soon as they saw our float, and us survivors, they jumped to their feet,” Chen recounted, highlighting the emotional connection with spectators who were moved to tears.
Andrew King, another survivor, echoed Chen’s sentiments, emphasizing the sense of unity he felt while waving an “Altadena” flag to the cheering crowd. The parade, a cherished tradition for many, became a vehicle for new memories, particularly for those like Gina Clayton-Johnson, who lost two family homes in the fire. “This parade has been the backdrop of my childhood and now a tradition I get to share with my children,” she said.
Carlos Marroquin, riding on the AIDS Healthcare Foundation float, which celebrates a program serving over 500,000 people weekly, noted that the rain did not deter the passionate crowd. “When it started raining hard, we were already going down the slope, and you just felt that connection between us and them,” he explained. Marroquin also praised the legendary Dolores Huerta, 95, who chose to ride despite the weather, declaring, “I didn’t drive here from Victorville just to go back.”
The outpouring of love and support from the community was palpable as Marroquin reflected on the parade’s significance. “My heart is full because I saw a lot of people out there that the rain didn’t stop,” he said, underscoring the importance of community solidarity in challenging times.
Elsa Garcia-Chau, a heart transplant recipient riding on the OneLegacy Donate Life float, described her experience as transformative. “It’s a celebration, one big jolt of ‘Wow!’” she said, connecting with the crowd as she blew kisses to spectators. “That smile comes. I would greet some of them, ‘Feliz año nuevo,’ and they say it back, hand on their hearts. That was beautiful.”
The Rose Parade also featured the UPS Store’s float, which won the Director’s Trophy for artistic design and set a Guinness World Record for the largest animatronic fish. Lonnie Melendrez, a junior at Dominguez High School, expressed how this opportunity would resonate through his life, inspiring future generations.
Despite the rain, the Rose Court members, donning clear ponchos, expressed gratitude for the dedicated crowd. Princess Keiko Rakin remarked, “Seeing how many people still showed up despite the rain really showed how much the parade and the Pasadena community mean to people.”
For many, the Rose Parade is more than a tradition; it’s a celebration of community, resilience, and hope. As the floats rolled down Colorado Boulevard amidst the rain, the powerful message was clear: even in the face of adversity, the human spirit prevails.
With the parade concluding, participants are already looking ahead to next year, inspired by the connections made and the memories created on this unique New Year’s Day.
