Annie Taylor marched in Macy's Parade

I enjoyed reading Bill Reynolds’ Dec 22 article about Tristen Nelson’s participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. But when I got to Russell Jensen’s quote (“I don’t know of anyone in town who has even been to the parade, let alone be part of it”), I had to respond.

While living in Manhattan working for Levi Strauss & Co., I saw a notice on a bulletin board in the back hall of Macy’s Herald Square asking for volunteers for the big parade. Where do I sign up?

I proudly walked as an ear of corn in the 1999 Macy’s Parade alongside The Tom Turkey float with Susan Lucci as the guest celebrity. Arriving very early in the morning to be assigned a costume, queuing up and chatting with all the other participants while waiting for makeup, taking a bus from Herald Square uptown to the beginning of the parade route, waving to all the people lining the streets and from the high rise windows as we walked the 2.5 miles in the rain to 34th St. is a day I will never forget.

I also know the Hannemans and the Traceys, both of La Conner, while visiting New York City viewed the parade in 2015. There are some in this small town that have big city memories.