OLEAN, N.Y. — When Jim Bardenett was contacted in October to ride in the 2015 Tournament of Roses parade as a representative of Olean, Louis Zamperini’s hometown, his immediate response was surprise.
After a few seconds, the Olean businessman felt “a bit overwhelmed” as he knew it was a special honor to participate in a parade that was honoring a true American hero.
The late Zamperini, former Olympian and World War II hero, is the subject of the movie “Unbroken” which will be released nationwide Christmas Day. Zamperini died in July shortly after being named grand marshal of the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Calif. His son Luke Zamperini and daughter Cynthia Garris will ride in the grand marshal car at the head of the parade which has the theme “Inspiring Stories.” Bardenett and others will ride on The City of Torrance Float in the parade, which was Zamperini’s childhood community in California.
Zamperini, who was born in Olean in 1917, was honored by his hometown in August with the dedication of a monument and special ceremony in War Veterans Park. The monument and event were both orchestrated by Bardenett.
While still a toddler, Zamperini moved with his family from Olean to California. During his early adulthood, he competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and joined the war effort several years later. During World War II he survived the crash of his bomber at sea and 47 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean, followed by two years of torture in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.
His story, which included forgiving his enemies after dedicating his life to God, hit the international radar when author Laura Hillenbrand wrote the best-selling book “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.”
For his part, Bardenett said he was pleased to be in the upcoming parade.
“It is very humbling being associated with anything linked to Louie,” Bardenett said.“This really is a story about community. Our Olean community.”
Bardenett said he not only feels privileged to represent the present-day Olean, but also the Olean of the early 20th century when Zamperini’s parents immigrated to the area from Italy.
“If not for the welcoming arms of our own little community melting pot of Olean, Louie would never have been born here on Jan. 26,1917,” Bardenett said. “Like most immigrants in Olean, my grandparents Lucia and Umberto were eager to respond to newcomers” and opened their second floor apartment over their grocery store to Zamperini’s parents.
“Louie’s parents eventually became good friends of my grandmother Lucia and she was asked to be Louie’s godmother,” Bardenett shared. “She accepted and Louie was baptized in Olean at our very own St. Mary of the Angels church on April 1, 1917.”
Bardenett’s grandmother stayed in touch with the Zamperinis after they moved away, and she even visited her godson on at least one occasion.
In commenting on the grand marshal honors bestowed upon her father posthumously, Garris said she recently traveled to New York City to provide additional publicity for her father’s movie.
“Our father considered being chosen as grand marshal of the Rose Parade one of the highest honors he had ever received,” Garris said. “Our family is deeply moved and humbled to be asked to stand in for him this coming Jan. 1.”
Garris said she and her family are also pleased that Bardenett is representing Olean in the parade, given all of his hard work in setting up the “beautiful dedication and monument” in Olean in honor of her father.
“This is truly Louie’s year and we invite everyone to join with our family as we celebrate the life of a great American hero,” she said.
