Long Island Woman Set To Participate In Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

OCEANSIDE, NY — One Long Islanders' dream is coming true by participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Rebecca McKeegan was selected by McDonald's to represent the Oceanside restaurant where she works, as the company's "Thank You Crew" initiative.

"I was absolutely speechless," McKeegan told Patch.

The four-year employee of the restaurant, an Oceanside resident, was thrilled to join the parade as a balloon holder for the iconic brand Ronald McDonald.

"I'm so blessed and so excited to be in this parade," she said.

As part of the Thank You Crew program, McDonald's owners/operators nominated team members from franchisees (mostly in New York City) by giving them a reward for dedication and a job above and beyond.

While McKeegan, 21, never misses watching the parade, this will be her first time in attendance for the annual tradition.

McKeegan will be among 20 balloon holders taking the two-and-a-half-mile route to Herald Square. She is the only person from Long Island who will walk hand and hand with the giant Ronald McDonald.

The forecast is for sun and the mid-40s as the parade kicks off, but the weather makes no difference to McKeegan.

"I'm ok with anything," she admitted. "As long as there's a parade, that's all that matters."

As part of the parade responsibilities, McKeegan will need to get to Central Park West for a pre-Thanksgiving rehearsal on Wednesday evening, followed by waking up "super early" prior to showtime.

She'll definitely be setting an alarm clock with a scheduled check-in by 6:30 a.m.

Weather and waking up pre-dawn notwithstanding, she is ready for the bucket list moment.

"[It's] unbelievable," McKeegan said. "I cannot wait."