Vicksburg native Rachel Ross will walk in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City Thursday.

Rachel, 18, the daughter of Dino and Sheryl Ross and is a senior at Porters Chapel Academy, was chosen to walk in the parade during the summer while she was attending the National Cheerleaders Association cheer camp.

The parade, an American tradition, is also a tradition for Rachel and her family.

“I watch it most of the time,” the PCA cheerleading captain said.

She says if she isn’t hunting she is watching the parade.

Rachel, joined by her sister, her mother and her grandmother, Dorlene Frost, left for New York Saturday.

Rachel, who plans to give up cheerleading after she graduates in May, is excited the parade is part of her final year of cheerleading.

Rachel found out she would could be a part of the Thanksgiving parade in June and by July she had her parent’s permission.

After arriving in New York Saturday evening Rachel had little time to relax. She had a practice that night for the parade. She had two more practices Sunday and several more between Monday and the parade Thursday.

She says she is looking forward to relaxing and exploring New York in between practices.

“This is my first time to go to New York City,” she said.

Rachel said she has a list of places to go and things to she while she is in New York. One of the first places she plans on visiting is the Cake Boss Café, home of one of her favorite television shows. She also plans to go to Radio City Music Hall and looks forward to trying out the subway, New York’s popular commute option.

Rachel will walk in the parade with more than 750 other cheerleaders and dancers. The parade route stretches across two miles through some of the most well known streets in the city. The parade will start on the west side of New York’s famous Central Park and end in front of Macy’s Department store.

During her stay in New York Rachel and her family will see Broadway’s Aladdin, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.