NEW YORK - Thanksgiving was not a day off for Ballou Senior High School's Majestic Marching Knights. The marching band took part in the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, one of the best known parades in the world.

The Knights were stepping lively down 7th Avenue, but their day began much much earlier.

ABC 7's Sam Ford and photojournalist Pege Gilgannon caught up with the marching band around 5 a.m. Thursday at the McDonald's in Times Square. It was time for a little breakfast between their 3:30 a.m. rehearsal and the 9 a.m. start of the parade

"It's all going to be worth it in the long run," said one Knight.

"Everybody's excited because I haven't been to sleep all night, since last night," said Darius Garnett, one of the Majestic Knights.

They marched through early morning darkness, preparing for their latest accomplishment. The Majestic Knights have already played an Inauguration and a Rose Bowl. Macy's came to D.C. More than a year ago to invite them up to the Big Apple.

"I'm having a blast, the kids are having a blast," said Darrell Watson, the band director and Ballou alum. "It's Thanksgiving; it's Macy's."

And it is a unique parade. The Knights were among the sky-high floats, with the massive crowds cheering them on right behind Ronald McDonald's float was Ballou.

The parade was a workout. They marched in time from 77th Street and Central Park West all the way to 34th Street and 8th Avenue, more than two and a half miles.

Drum major Anthony Isaacs admitted he was a little "tired, tired, tired." But he had a "ball. We had fun."

And while they were far from friends and family, the national television coverage helped bridge the gap.

"They been blowing up the phone," Watson said, adding band members had been getting text messages from "D.C., Pennsylvania and California," among other places.

"It was long and fun," was one marcher's assessment.

But the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade wasn't the Marching Knights' only event. They are performing Thanksgiving night at Lincoln Center.

 Email To Friend