OXFORD, Ohio – Sara Hornbeck, of Shepherdstown will travel to New York City with the Miami University Marching Band on the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Hornbeck is a freshman at Miami.

Miami’s marching band was selected as one of 10 bands in the nation to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on the 85th anniversary.

The band was chosen from a pool of more than 150 applicants based on their superior music ability, marching technique and performance skills.

They will join the line-up of performers, Macy’s employees, floats and giant helium character balloons in the iconic holiday celebration Thursday, Nov. 24.

Each year, 3.5 million spectators line the streets of Manhattan and 50 million viewers tune in to watch the parade. Miami’s 257 marching band members will march the two-mile parade route with more than 8,000 parade participants.

The parade begins at 9 a.m. and airs on NBC.