Los Alamos High School 2022 graduates and Northern Arizona University students Reuben Goettee and Samantha Grow perform in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

While many Americans could be found seated around the dinner table Thanksgiving Day, two Los Alamos High School graduates – Reuben Goettee and Samantha Grow – found themselves on national television in front of millions of viewers.

Goettee and Grow are members of the Northern Arizona University marching band, which earned a spot in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Despite one hiccup that occurred when a gap formed between the marching band and the previous parade performers, which required Goette, Grow and their fellow musicians to run the final three blocks with their instruments to catch up, both said it was an amazing experience.

“It was a whole lot of fun,” Goettee said, adding that he enjoyed seeing what pieces other marching bands in the parade were performing.

“…we had to walk past a bunch of them, and it was really cool to see them up close and get to see what some of them put together,” he said. “We were there the whole week, so we got to see the parade get put together. You always see the parade on TV, but you never know what goes on behind the scenes to make it happen.”

“Marching in the parade itself was a high point … just marching in front of thousands of people … I have never marched in a parade that large so that is definitely something I’ll remember,” Grow said.

She added, looking back on it, “I think we did pretty good. It got hectic towards the end. We fell a little bit behind and we had to stop playing and run the last three blocks but overall, I think our performance was pretty good.”

Grow and Goettee play the clarinet, an instrument they’ve played since elementary school.

As for the pieces the Northern Arizona University marching band performed in the parade, Goettee said they were: Chappel Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”, the theme song from the movie, “Ghost Busters” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”.

To earn a spot in the parade, Goettee said two years ago the marching band applied. Additionally, they provided videos of the band performing and marching and references. They were informed that they were accepted last semester.

Then began the work of fundraising to get to the parade, he said.

Of the 270 people in the university’s marching band, Grow said 240 were able to march in the parade.

The competition to get into the parade is steep. Grow said she estimates 100 marching bands from various colleges and high schools apply to be in the parade and between seven and 10 are selected.

To prepare for the parade, Goettee said in addition to the usual practice that happens three days a week, the band also rehearsed for two hours a day. Work started in late September to early October.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade covers 2.5 miles and Goettee said it lasted about 45 minutes. The marching band got to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of the parade as well as the closing ceremonies. While a lot of celebrities take part in the parade, Grow said the closest the marching band got to meet someone famous was during the ribbon cutting when two of the drum majors held the ribbon for Cynthia Ervio to cut.

Although an argument could be made that Goettee and Grow are now celebrities – at least to their families. While neither had family members who were able to go in person to the parade, many watched them on the television.

“I haven’t stopped being told how family members are trying to find me,” Goettee said. “It’s been really fun.”

He compared it to a Where’s Waldo search.

“I am pretty sure my entire family watched me on TV,” Grow said. “They’re super excited.”

Goettee and Grow are wrapping up their undergraduate careers at Northern Arizona University this year as well as their time in the university’s marching band. They both described being in the marching band as a great experience.

“I think it is a great way to find friends, make community,” Goettee said.

“The atmosphere is really, really great … our directors know how to help us get things done,” Grow said. “But we joke and have fun. It’s a good mix of having fun and doing work.”

As far as their plans for the future, Goettee is not only receiving his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering but will receive his master’s degree this year, too.

Grow said she would like to take some time off but does plan to go to graduate school herself. She is pursuing a degree in ecology and evolutionary biology.