[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 135 (Friday, August 30, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E853-E854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURBANK TOURNAMENT OF ROSES 
 ASSOCIATION AND THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF BURBANK, CALIFORNIA'S FIRST 
                   FLOAT ENTERED INTO THE ROSE PARADE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 30, 2024

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 75th 
anniversary of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association and 110th 
anniversary of the City of Burbank's first float in the Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses Parade.
  The City of Burbank has been represented in the Rose Parade since 
1914, when the City

[[Page E854]]

of Burbank, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, and other civic 
organizations entered Burbank's first float. That float, entitled 
``Goddess of Plenty,'' featured an intricate dragon's head and a large 
cornucopia filled with assorted vegetables, and was awarded a silver 
cup trophy. Since that time, Burbank has participated in the parade 
intermittently, including a few years where decorated automobiles were 
entered instead of floats. From 1935 to 1940, the Burbank city schools 
took responsibility for the floats, and after a few years' hiatus 
during World War II, the city sponsored floats, including an Isabella 
Coleman-designed float, made by professional float building companies, 
in 1947 and 1948.
  When the City Council decided that funds would be better used for 
infrastructure and announced that Burbank would not participate in the 
1949 Rose Parade, Burbank resident Esther Klein led the effort to 
privately finance a float. After gaining widespread community support 
for a hometown-built float, Mrs Klein brought a self-designed model of 
the proposed entry and exploratory plans for a permanent Burbank 
Tournament of Roses committee to the Burbank City Council, and 
subsequently received the council's approval. Thanks to the very first 
and newly elected Burbank Tournament of Roses Association President 
Esther Klein's stellar leadership, and against many odds, the 
association members and the Burbank community raised funds and 
mobilized volunteers to design, build, and decorate the 1949 float 
entitled ``First Love,'' which won First Prize for its division.
  Over 75 years, Burbank's float has won thirty-three major awards 
including three Sweepstakes Awards for Best Float Entry. Burbank's 
annual float entry in this emblematic New Year's Day tradition is a 
product of the unwavering dedication, hard work and local civic pride 
demonstrated by the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association and 
countless other civic organizations and community volunteers.
  I ask all Members to join me today in recognizing the 75th 
anniversary of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association and the 
110th anniversary of Burbank's first float in the Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses Parade.

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