MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — Many Americans kick off their Thanksgiving celebrations with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition that goes back nearly 100 years.
The Mount Pleasant High School cheerleaders had the chance to be a part of that history after being invited to this year’s parade.
“I was speechless, because it's not like an everyday thing, and some people dream of doing that. So the fact that we get to be a part of it means a lot,” Mount Pleasant High School cheerleader Kadence Weatherall said.
Her teammate Avanleigh Thomas said she never thought she'd have the chance to perform, but she's grateful that she had the opportunity.
Weatherall and Thomas are no strangers to the stage and bright lights, but this performance brought some newfound jitters.
“We got told that a million people in New York come to watch and about 80 million people watch it on TV, so that's very nerve-wracking, but it's also exciting,” Weatherall said.
Mount Pleasant High School Cheer Coach Karissa Lopez said the team has been preparing for this opportunity since last Thanksgiving.
“We just want them to enjoy the experience. And again, it's once in a lifetime. So just go out there. We know the material and perform,” Lopez said.
Last year, the team received an invitation from another fellow East Texan, Jo Salinas, who is part of the overarching committee Spirit of America.
“She had said that she used to coach the Tiger Dolls back in Mount Pleasant High School in about the 80s,” Lopez said.
On Thanksgiving Day, a team of 15 girls from Mount Pleasant walked alongside 600 other cheerleaders in the parade. That includes some familiar faces from Tatum and Mount Vernon -- all there to represent East Texas.
“Our school is phenomenal,” Lopez said. “The people who back us up are great. We have so much support, we're so appreciative of it and we can't begin to thank them enough.”
It's not all work though – the team is making time to see the sights and hit all the must-see spots in the Big Apple.
On Thursday, a group of girls from rural East Texas had all eyes on them, putting Mount Pleasant on the map and living a moment they’ll never forget.
“It’s crazy to think, from such a small town that I'm in New York performing and doing something that I love,” Weatherall said.
DID YOU KNOW?
CBS19 is available live and on-demand on your favorite TV streaming device, anytime from anywhere in the U.S.
The free CBS19+ app for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and smart TV devices features a 24/7 stream with the latest from CBS19.
In addition to the live stream, watch the latest from CBS19 on-demand, along with additional programming from our partners at TEGNA (like Verify, "Murder at My Door" and "In the News") and Locked On Sports, plus special collections from CBS19 like Under the Lights, Hooked on East Texas and CBS19 Originals.
DOWNLOAD ON ROKU
Add the free CBS19 channel by searching for CBS19 East Texas News in the Roku Channel Store on your device, or add the CBS19+ Roku channel using this link.
DOWNLOAD ON FIRE TV
Search for the free CBS19+ app in the Amazon App Store directly on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, or add the CBS19+ Fire TV app using this link.
DOWNLOAD ON APPLE TV
Learn more about the free CBS19+ app in the Apple TV App Store and download directly from your Apple TV device.
DOWNLOAD ON YOUR SMART TV
The CBS19+ app is also now available directly on "smart" or "connected" televisions made by Samsung, LG and Philips, as well as televisions with Android TV. Search for CBS19 East Texas News in your television's app store to add CBS19+.
OTHER FREE WAYS TO WATCH
The CBS19+ 24/7 stream can be viewed on any desktop or mobile web browser anytime on the Watch page here on cbs19.tv.