At the Tournament of Roses, USC alumnus Louis Zamperini was recognized with a very touching tribute. Mr. Zamperini was selected last summer as the parade’s grand marshal, but passed away shortly after his selection. To honor him at the parade, USC’s beloved mascot, Traveler, followed the grand marshal banner as a riderless horse, a traditional symbol of a fallen soldier.
This speaks to the remarkable power of Mr. Zamperini’s story, which continues to inspire people around the world. A track star while a student at USC and at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Mr. Zamperini served in World War II, during which his plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean. He survived adrift at sea for 47 days before being picked up by enemy troops, and spent two harrowing years as a prisoner of war. His story is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, as well as the recent film Unbroken. To commemorate Mr. Zamperini’s achievements, USC has established an endowed scholarship in his name, which will be awarded to a track and field athlete each year.