EVEN IN PASSING, HIS SPIRIT REMAINS AT THE HEART OF THE 126TH PARADE

What better choice than 2015 Rose Parade Grand for the theme of “Inspiring Stories?” passing at the age of 97, the at the heart of the 126th parade. His children and their spouses will ride in the in his honor, preceded by USC’s mascot, Traveler 7.

The horse will be riderless, symbolizing a fallen warrior. Well Run,” follows the car.

And what a race he ran.

‘Torrance Tornado’ brother Pete to put his gift for running toward a goal, the Torrance youth became a champion in high school, earning the moniker “The Torrance Tornado,” setting records and winning a scholarship to the University of Southern California.

At age 19, he won a spot in the 1,500 meter and re- ever for that event. Adolf Hitler was so impressed that he invited him to meet dictator by tearing down a Just short of completing his bachelor’s degree the Army Air Force and ing for a downed crew. The plane crashed into the ocean, two other crew members survived.

A war hero’s promise One died during the 47 Russell Allen Phillips spent in a raft. The two were picked up by the Japanese, sent to an unregistered POW camp and tortured.

The US military declared them dead, and it wasn’t until the camp was liberated two years later that it was discovered they were still alive. During these ordeals, he repeatedly promised God a life of service if he survived.

Inspiring though those fered nightmares from his to drinking. He married Cynthia Applewhite in 1946, but by 1949 the couple neared divorce.

Cynthia dragged him to a revival meeting where a young Billy Graham delivered powerful sermons. Recalling his promises, his life around. He forgave the Japanese soldiers who had imprisoned him, many of them face-to-face, and dedicated himself to sharing the gospel.

With Cynthia he joined First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, helped to start the Voyagers Sunday school couples class, which he participated in until his death, directed the church’s senior lunch program, and founded Victory Boys Camp for troubled youth.

Torrance Airport was renamed Zamperini Field in 1946 and the Torrance High School home football, soccer and track field is called the Zamperini Stadium.

Though Zamperini had previously written two versions of his autobiography, “Devil at My Heels” and “Devil at My Heels: A World War II Hero’s Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, and Forgiveness,” it was Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 book, “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,” that brought him to the attention of Tournament of Roses President Richard Chinen.

The movie “Unbroken,” based on the book and directed by Angelina Jolie, premiers on Dec. 25. Zamperini and Hillenbrand were working on a second book to cover some areas not previously written about.

In his grand marshal acceptance speech, delivered with humor and selfdeprecation, Zamperini noted that more than a dozen of his friends were interviewed for the book.

“All of them are dead now,” he said, “but I made a new friend in Angelina Jolie. She loves me…. She gave me a good conduct medal. It’s the worst medal I’ve ever gotten.” Whether setting track records, surviving a plane wreck and torture, or sharing his faith, Louis Zamperini is indeed the embodiment of “Inspiring Stories.”