American Fork family has a Rose Bowl parade legacy

AMERICAN FORK, Utah — There will be BYU blue at the Rose Bowl . . . and a legacy at that.

Hours before Utah and Ohio State square off on New Year’s Day, American Fork resident Sherri Rogers will see a second daughter fall in her footsteps as part of the prestigious Bank of America Honor Marching Band.

The organization, which includes participants from 40 states this time around, is the nation’s premier marching band and is put together every four years. In 1985, Sherri played clarinet for the group. Daughter Emily did the same in 2017. Now, after being delayed one year because of the pandemic, her younger sister Megan is set to play the tenor saxophone in the parade.

“It means a lot. I grew up going to the Rose Parade every year,” said Sherri, who grew up near Pasadena in neighboring Arcadia, California. “And since we’ve lived in Utah we get up every New Year’s morning and watch it. My kids have grown up watching it. So to have two of them be in it has really been a special thing.”

Despite being supportive and excited for friends in the participating University of Utah Marching Band, the Rogers family isn’t about to let their loyalty be swayed when they see the Utes in the parade.

“We will probably be wearing our BYU blue,” said Sherri, who added that folks will know the family is from Utah.

The state is well represented in the 2022 honor band. Besides Megan, who is now a freshman at BYU but was invited back to the high school group because last year’s Rose Parade was canceled, two other Utahns made the cut. Anna Seamons of American For and Dallen DiCesaris of Park City are also participating.

Next fall, the Rogers will have three sisters marching in the band at BYU. Sarah, who is currently serving a mission, is set to make it three with Emily and Megan. She plays the mellophone.