Like most events in the new, post-September 11 New York, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has some changes in store. The 75th anniversary parade will feature floats meant to pay tribute to both the city and the country. The parade will open with the new Curious George balloon, and then the first float will be a Statue of Liberty float, with Betty Buckley singing "America the Beautiful." The color guard of the Merchant Marines will accompany the float, carrying 50 American flags and all 50 state flags. Later in the show, the New York Police Department band will play "New York, New York," while representatives from the NYPD and the Fire Department of New York will carry two flag banners before the The Daily News-sponsored "Big Apple" float. City officials and representatives from the NYPD, FDNY, Emergency Medical Service and the Port Authority will accompany the float, and it will be followed by the Harold the Fireman balloon.
The parade also has a very large behind the scenes change: Macy's event chief Jean McFaddin left the retailer earlier this year after running its events since 1977. Her replacement, Robin Hall, was appointed to his new position in January, and worked with McFaddin for a few months to ensure a smooth transition. McFaddin worked on the parade some this spring, and consulted with Macy's after she left, but she has happily turned over the event's enormous responsibility. "I feel like I have a stake in this parade," McFaddin told us this week, but she says it's in other people's hands now.
Posted 11.14.01
Read our profile of Jean McFaddin...
Read our coverage of the Macy's going away party for McFaddin...
More Bash Buzz...
The parade also has a very large behind the scenes change: Macy's event chief Jean McFaddin left the retailer earlier this year after running its events since 1977. Her replacement, Robin Hall, was appointed to his new position in January, and worked with McFaddin for a few months to ensure a smooth transition. McFaddin worked on the parade some this spring, and consulted with Macy's after she left, but she has happily turned over the event's enormous responsibility. "I feel like I have a stake in this parade," McFaddin told us this week, but she says it's in other people's hands now.
Posted 11.14.01
Read our profile of Jean McFaddin...
Read our coverage of the Macy's going away party for McFaddin...
More Bash Buzz...
