Six decades ago, beauty queen Joan Williams was denied a chance to ride a float in the Rose Parade.
Pasadena flaunted its annual floral extravaganza Thursday, as it narrowly missed a Rose Parade record for cold weather and carried on after the death of World War II legend and grand marshal Louis Zamperini. The theme for the 126th Tournament of Roses
American war hero and Olympian Louis Zamperini (center) was chosen as the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Tournament of Roses in May of 2014. Zamperini speaks here with his son Luke Zamperini (R) and Tournament of Roses President Richard L. Chinen
Despite chilly temperatures, thousands of people lined the streets of Pasadena on Thursday for the 126th Rose Parade, huddling under blankets and sipping hot chocolate as they watched flower-covered floats roll past.
For tens of millions of people each year, the Rose Parade is an escape — two hours spent in a world of floral fantasy. But real-world issues sometimes disrupt the New Year's Day party. The parade has, on occasion, been marked by protests, including