GLENDALE'S FRIENDLY FLOAT : PARADE ENTRY DEDICATED TO FIREFIGHTERS.Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer Scott Jensen and Glendale Firefighter Scott French picked up tiny snippets of strawflowers Monday and pasted them carefully onto a giant Raggedy Ann Raggedy Ann good-natured despite misadventures; doll with perpetual smile. [Children’s Lit.: Raggedy Ann Stories] See : Cheerfulness and Andy float. But as they worked on Glendale's Tournament of Roses parade The Tournament of Roses Parade was established, and first held, on January 1,1890, in Pasadena, California, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Rooted in tradition, this parade is broadcast on multiple television networks, watched by upwards of one entry, they couldn't help but think of one who was missing. Jensen's father, Bill - a Glendale firefighter - is still hospitalized after being burned, along with French, in October's firestorm fire·storm n. 1. A fire of great size and intensity that generates and is fed by strong inrushing winds from all sides: the firestorm that leveled Hiroshima after the atomic blast. 2. near Malibu. The float, called ``Best Friends,'' was dedicated to Bill Jensen and French by Glendale's Rose Float Association last month. In particular, a giant ribbon of yellow strawflowers was placed in Raggedy rag·ged·y adj. rag·ged·i·er, rag·ged·i·est Tattered or worn-out; ragged. Ann's hair to symbolize the community's support for the men. A record 300 Glendale volunteers showed up to work on the float, organizers said. ``I wish it was my dad down here doing this,'' said Scott Jensen, a Burbank resident. ``Hopefully next year he will be.'' On Monday, Bill Jensen underwent his 14th surgery at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks. Doctors removed the firefighter's left hand from a pocket inside his abdomen, where it was placed three weeks ago to grow new tissue. A spokesman for the burn center said the procedure was successful, and that center officials are hopeful Jensen will be released by the end of January. French said he was honored by the city's decision to dedicate the float to the firefighters. The Ventura resident said he's nearly recovered from his injuries and expects to return to work next month. French said Glendale residents have been tremendously supportive, becoming almost like ``another family,'' but that the parade recognition was still unexpected. ``It's really surprising that they would go out of their way to dedicate the float to us,'' he said. Glendale's entry is among 56 floats that will roll through the streets of Pasadena during Wednesday's 1997 Tournament of Roses parade. Hundreds of float builders and volunteers scrambled Monday to put the finishing touches finishing touches finish npl the finishing touches → der letzte Schliff finishing touches npl → ultimi ritocchi mpl on their floral masterpieces - all built within the theme of ``Life's Shining Moments.'' Football fans from Arizona and Ohio, as well as other tourists, admired the floats as part of the pretournament festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . Some 30 former rose queens were reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer at the 24th annual Kodak Rose Queens Brunch. Bands from around the world played at the tournament-sponsored ``Bandfest'' concert. And equestrians performed demonstrations in anticipation of their parts in the parade. Tournament officials said Monday that an Air Force B-2 Spirit The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth heavy bomber, capable of deploying both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is operated exclusively by the United States Air Force. Its development was a milestone in the modernization program of the U.S. will kick off the 108th Rose Parade with a flyover, marking the stealth bomber's first-ever parade appearance. Glendale's rose float directors settled on their ``Best Friends'' theme in April, but later decided to honor French and Jensen. Tournament officials agreed to the modification, said Dave Weaver, who coordinates volunteers for Glendale's Rose Float Association. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Map Photo: (1--color) Scott Jensen, left, and Scott French meet in front of Glendale's Rose Parade float. Jensen's father and French were injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. near Malibu in October's fire. (2) A Rose Bowl guard takes a short nap while the field is prepared. Tina Gerson/Daily News Map: Pasadena Rose Parade float decorating sites |
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