LOS ANGELES, January 2, 2006 — Rain-soaked spectators roared with applause at the Home and Garden Television's grandstand Jan. 2, as the Army's last mounted cavalry unit presented arms during one of the nation's largest parades. The 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment braved Mother Nature's wrath and basked in the adoration of more than 200,000 fanatics as they moseyed down Colorado Avenue during the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade.
"This is what this trip has been all about," said Staff Sgt. Donnie Davis, a demonstration rider with the detachment. "You know, this is what we live for."
An odyssey, seven days in the making for the detachment, this year's parade performance was not without its challenges. It hadn't rained on this parade since 1955.
This year, it poured.
"It's only rained once in my lifetime," said Patsy Grant, a passenger on the Wells Fargo stage.
Grant said that after 25 years of coming to the parade, this was her first time participating in the event. Still, Grant said she had to find the right type of ride to make her dream come true.
"I'm too old to be queen, I can't play a note and I'm afraid of horses so I had to find something to ride on," she said.
The line-up consisted of 48 floats, 25 marching bands, 23 equestrian units and three official vehicles which made their way down the five-and-one-half-mile route, fighting sheets of rain every inch of the way.
"Our biggest concern wasn't the horses, but the floats," said Gerald Freeny, the chairman of the equestrian committee for the parade. "By 2:30 this morning we were drilling holes in the bottom of the floats to help them drain water, but the real concern was the winds."
Local weather forecasts predicted four to eight inches of rain with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour for the parade. Still, with all the rain and wind, the show went on. Soaked to the bone, the Soldiers played to the crowd, as "Buddy," the detachment's dog, howled to the delight to thousands of small children hoping to get a smile and a wave from one of the cavalrymen. Past the grandstands and through the streets, Longhorn and Trojan fans were engaged in a torrid war of words, but as the First Team troops rode past those words turned to cheers for the Soldiers and what they represent. Riding tall in the saddle and shivering from the cold, the members of the detachment were all smiles from beginning to end. A lot has happened since their last appearance at the Tournament of Roses Parade, but for the troopers it had been worth the wait.
"It's truly an honor to be back here," said Sgt. 1st Class Rip Bussell, the detachment platoon sergeant. "Coming to the parade and representing both the Cav and the Army is an honor, but talking to the people about who we are and what we really do is what makes things like this worthwhile."
Members of the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment greet soggy spectators on South Orange Grove Boulevard during their performance at the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif. The detachment was one of 23 equestrian units to perform at one of the largest parades in the nation. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Colby Hauser, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
The 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment wagon and ground crew greet soggy spectators on South Orange Grove Boulevard during their performance at the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif. The detachment was one of 23 equestrian units to perform at one of the largest parades in the nation. Rain soaked the five-mile parade route for the first time in 50 years. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Colby Hauser, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
Sgt. Randy Melton, a "mule skinner" or wagon driver for the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment prepares his four mules for their unit's performance in the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif. The detachment weathered pouring rain throughout the parade, a first in 50 years. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Colby Hauser, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
Members of the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment approach the home stretch after five and a half miles of rain and smiles during their performance at the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif. Occasional starts and stops afforded the unit time to interact with nearly 200,000 spectators who braved the weather to attend the parade. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Colby Hauser, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
Last Updated: 4 April 2007