Macy’s Parade Features Texas Band

L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band from Hurst is one of 11 high school bands—and the only one from Texas—marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The band’s 265 students, along with dozens of staff and chaperones, departed for New York on six flights early Monday morning. Two dads transported instruments, uniforms, and everything else that wouldn’t fit on a plane in 18-foot box trucks.

“It’s so exciting. I just feel so privileged to get to go with all my friends and family to New York for a week and perform,” drum major Caidyn Cumberledge said. During the parade, the band will perform Deep in the Heart of Texas and Dua Lipa’s Houdini.

The school district, families, and community sponsors are splitting costs for the trip. While they’re in New York, the band will visit the Rockefeller Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. They’ll also see a Broadway show and the Radio City Rockettes.

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Thanks to all of you who submitted your Thanksgiving memories. These are a few of our favorites.

➤ Doug Lunsford (San Angelo): My family moved to Midland in 1961 when I was ten years old. We invited family, friends, and neighbors to a big Thanksgiving gathering at our new home, where we set up a table with sawhorses and plywood. The best part was the live chickens my grandfather brought. After he chopped their heads off, they ran around the yard for a bit before he cooked them in a huge cast-iron pot.

➤ Cindy Thompson (Tomball): My husband and I spent one Thanksgiving setting forms for concrete pads for our new mobile home. Our dinner was hot dogs, beanie weenies, and cold beer. It is one of my best memories.

➤ Ann Gromer: One Thanksgiving, during a snack break from playing cards, I was looking for something salty and found some jerky on a side table. I opened the bag and helped myself. All of a sudden, my parents’ 4 dogs were at my feet. “What are you eating?” my mom asks. “Jerky,” I replied. She exclaimed, “Those are the dog treats!” I have gotten dog treats in my Christmas stocking every year since!

➤ Susan Bowman: Shortly after my husband and I married, we were unable to make a trip home for Thanksgiving. I decided to fix a traditional dinner just for the two of us. I wanted to make cornbread dressing like my mother did, so I called her to get her recipe. She said, “Well, you fix your cornbread and crumble it into your pan. You add turkey drippings until it looks right, and then you add chopped-up onions and celery and your spices until it smells right and…” I decided to go with Stove Top Stuffing instead. I still can’t fix a decent dressing, and I still use Stove Top Stuffing.

➤ Teri Hogan: I was an Air Force brat growing up, and we got to San Antonio in 1961. Every year, we went to the mess hall at Lackland AFB for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a multi-family affair, and I still treasure those delicious meals!

➤ Annette Reed (Cedar Hill): In 1987, my husband and I visited my parents in Hawkins for Thanksgiving. While we were watching the Cowboys game, I asked, “What is that white stuff on the football field?” We had returned from a three-year military assignment in the Philippines, and I had apparently forgotten all about winter weather. My husband said, “That’s snow, and it is really coming down. We need to go home now.” By the time we got to Terrell, I-20 was a slushy mess. When we finally made it home to Cedar Hill, the game was over.

➤ Some of our readers’ favorite Thanksgiving side dishes are egg noodles (George Henry), jalapeño sausage dressing (Larry Leahy), green chili grits (Lorrain Ruiz), and Cajun squash and shrimp casserole (Mona Hudgens).

➤ Sarah Barganier said she has prepared the turkey for her Thanksgiving meal for 56 years, earning the title “turkey lady.”

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Are you taking advantage of your Amazon Prime perks this holiday season?

Whether you’re already a Prime member or considering signing up, here are 9 Prime member benefits you should be using as you do your holiday shopping! 

Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? 

1. From start to finish
2. Some of it
3. Used to
4. Never have

Yesterday’s Results:

Will you watch any football games tomorrow?

1. Absolutely: 40%
2. Don’t plan to: 32%
3. Maybe: 28%

What South Texas town claims the title “Turkey Capital of the World”?

Show me the answer