Escaping the cold for work gloves and roses.

Senior Ryan Gaddie had a unique Christmas break.

Gaddie traveled to Pasadena, California to attend and work the Rose Parade. His family owns Lloyd’s Florist on Bardstown Road. Gaddie and his dad has a big role in the creation of the floats in the parade.

The Rose Parade is held every year before the Rose Bowl College Football game. This was the 129 parade and thousands of people packed the streets to watch it. The theme of this years parade was making a difference.

Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, who is most famously known for his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the film Forrest Gump, was the Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal. The parade also featured many high school and collegiate marching bands from all over the world.

Gaddie and his family has been very involved in the parade for many years. His father got a job with Fiesta Parade Floats 18 years ago and have been working with them ever since. Gaddie has been attending the parade and designing floats for the past five years with his father. “Every year we are the lead designers on two of the floats for Fiesta Parade Floats and we basically do all the floral designs on the float,” said Gaddie.

Gaddie described the atmosphere as different every year because there are different sports fans there to attend the game and he continued by saying the parade is always a wonderful time. “This year we worked on the Lucy Pet and City of Torrance floats and we worked from 8 a.m on the 27 till 6 a.m on the 31,” said Gaddie.

Each float gets judged before the parade. “On the 31 all the floats have to be done so judging can happen. During judging the floats plays it’s song that comes with it and all the rides will be on it so it’s almost like what you see on parade day. Each floats is judged for five minutes,” said Gaddie. The City of Torrance won the Mayor’s Award which is the best floats design of a California city.

“I have learned valuable lessons like leadership to help me back here at home. I also have learned that it takes a group to work to make things possible. You can’t do it alone. It has also shown me that you can’t please everyone, but in the long run you have to trust your gut and you will do great,” said Gaddie.

Gaddie said that he would continue to help design the floats even when he goes to Bellarmine in the fall.