From the football fields of Mid-Michigan, to the streets of New York City, a Charlotte drum major secured a prime spot in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Ryan Klann, a senior at Charlotte High School, is a drum major for the schools marching band program. Come November, he will be taking his talents to the national stage.
"I am just so excited. I just can't believe it," he said.
Klann was chosen to be one of the two drum majors in the parade while at a camp over the summer. He had no idea he won until he read the email.
"Everyone has just been so supportive it's mind-blowing and I just can't believe it. This is a whole new thing. Being a drum major for a town is amazing....but this is a whole new level and I love it," he said.
Charlotte Band Director Jerry Rose says Klann has been a leader in the program for the last two years. He said the senior has an "intangible presence" and he feels a sense of pride seeing Klann recognized nationally.
"It is kind of crazy to think about it when you think about all of the students in the country that could be doing this and only two are selected. But then again I think, well, of course they selected Ryan. Of course. Because he's Ryan. And he's done a wonderful job," Rose said.
Thanksgiving can't come soon enough for Klann, who's still in shock about the whole thing.
"I take a lot of pride in our community, I'm just so excited to represent everything this community and this school stands for," Klann said.
The community is also rallying together to raise money to send him to New York, so you could say they are pretty excited too.
NBC airs the parade. You can watch it on WILX-TV at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
