Photo: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times/01-01-10 — Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his wife, Lorrie, wave to the crowds during the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.
Hero pilot, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was the perfect choice to be the grand marshal of today’s Tournament of Roses Parade. You might remember, the miracle on the Hudson. The US Airways pilot landed a disabled passenger jetliner safely on New York’s Hudson River, a year ago this month. A bird strike had knocked out all of the plane’s engines, but Captain Sullenberger’s skill and quick thinking saved the day. Since then, Sullenberger has become a book author and a reluctant celebrity.
The theme of this year’s Rose Parade, “A cut above the rest” in honor of every day heroes.
Photo: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times/01-01-10 — Three cheers for Burbank! The “Barnyard Aces” float built by the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association won a trophy for best animation and motion. On the float, there’s a Stearman PT-17 airplane that climbs, dives, and performs 360 degree rolls.
Photo: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/01-01-10 — “Tuskegee Airmen: A Cut Above,” sponsored by the West Covina Rose Float Foundation, pays tribute to that heroic famous group of African American servicemen of World War II. The float won the Mayor’s Award for most outstanding city entry — national or international.
Photo: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/ 01-01-10 — The “Jewels of the Pacific,” showcasing sea creatures in the underwater world off the California coast, was sponsored by the Downey Rose Float Association. It won the Founders’ Trophy for most spectacularly built and decorated float by volunteers from a community or organization.
