The Henderson area cheerleaders who earned the opportunity to perform in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade received their uniforms from Spirit of America on Nov. 1. They unboxed them in a ceremony at the home of the late Mike Miller in Henderson.

HENDERSON — Henderson area cheerleaders who earned the opportunity to perform in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are on their way to New York City.

Seventeen girls qualified through spring tryouts with Spirit of American Productions, a company that’s organized cheer performances at the parade since 1989. The tryouts were held all over the country and were open to girls and boys ages 13-18.

The participants include Monkey Copeland, Libby Rockey, Hailey Gowen, Bonnie Briscoe, Grace Propes, Lily Hathorn, Addison Standley, Anabel Fajardo and Adalee Chastain for the varsity squad and Greenlee Goodwin, Mary Ella Hampton, Cori Wimberly, Madisyn Washington, Brooklynn Burks, Jenna Poole, Erin McHugh and Kyla Lewis in the JV squad. All of them are on their way to New York to begin a busy week of rehearsals, city tours and Broadway shows starting on Saturday.

The girls received their parade uniforms from Spirit of America on Nov. 1 and unboxed them in a ceremony in front of the late philanthropist Michael Miller’s home in Henderson.

Miller was heavily involved in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade for 20 years of his long career producing and coordinating major events. He produced two nationally televised NBC productions of the Macy’s parade and received distinguished awards for his artistic contributions to the parade and NBC telecasts.

Miller also helped run several national cheerleading and dancing organizations including National Spirit Group Ltd., the eventual parent company of the National Cheerleaders Association, Cheerleader Supply and NCA Superstar Dance Camps, and founded his own company Mike Miller & Associates Special Events, which continues to place cheerleaders and dancers in bowl game shows and parades to this day.

The cheerleaders are not affiliated with Henderson ISD. At the parade they will be representing the City of Henderson.

Henderson cheerleaders most recently represented the city in the parade in 2021. Around 400 to 600 cheerleaders from around the country are expected to participate in this year’s parade.

The parade airs on NBC from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday and will be simulcast on Peacock.