Roselle native to lead Macy's Thanksgiving parade

On Thanksgiving Day this year, MerrieBeth Cox of Roselle will usher in the holiday season - literally.

Cox, 20, will be the very first person seen by more than 44 million people who watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and on NBC as the champion baton twirler leads the Purdue University Band in the parade's first unit.

The band auditioned via video last year to participate and Cox said it was chosen not only to join, but to open the entire event.

"I think they liked how we handled ourselves and how the band looked," she said.

Cox, a junior business major, is the Purdue Golden Girl, which is the top twirling spot in the band auxiliary. She held the post since her freshman year and has been twirling since she was a toddler, just like her grandmother, mother, three aunts, cousin and younger sister.

"I copied everything my cousin did when I was little, so of course I wanted to do it," Cox said. "And I just fell in love. It's so much more than just twirling and it has taught me how to carry myself well, speak well. (It's given me) determination, it has made me an athlete and I just love competing."

Of course the biggest worry is dropping the baton during her biggest performance yet, but Cox has plenty of practice under pressure. She twirls at all of Purdue's home football games, many basketball games and has performed on the Big Ten Network.

Cox and her sister, Melissa, have twirled throughout the United States, Europe and Peru. They made history this year at the National Baton Twirling Championships at The University of Notre Dame. In a first for the contest, MerrieBeth, who was the 2009 Miss Majorette of America, crowned her sister with the 2010 title.

With those milestones under her belt, Cox said she's thrilled about the parade.

"I am nervous but, at the same time, I am so, so excited," she said.