A Bakersfield man will be honored in the New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena. Tuesday night, the family of Joshua Robertson put the finishing touches on part of a float dedicated to organ donors across the country.
With a sprinkle here and a dab there, Chris Robertson is touching up a unique portrait of his brother Joshua. It's a floral-graph of Joshua Robertson, one of 72 portraits that will be featured on the Donate Life float in this year's Rose Parade honoring 72 organ donors nationwide.
"It was good for me," said Joshua's mother Paula Robertson. "It just made me feel good that he was honored like this for doing something good in such a bad way of him dying."
Joshua Robertson died July 17th, 2009. He suffered fatal injuries while fighting three other men who were harassing a female drive-through clerk at a Del Taco restaurant in Bakersfield. After taking Robertson off life support, Joshua's family donated six of his organs.
Lori Malkin, founder of J.J.'s legacy, a local non-profit that promotes organ donation, nominated Joshua Robertson to be part of this year's Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. Malkin's son Jeffrey Johns was featured on last year's float in Pasadena.
Each portrait is made entirely of organic materials - dried flowers, herbs and spices. Family and friends gathered around the Robertson's dining room table as the final ingredients were added. Joshua's brother, Chris, was pleased with the family's work of art that comes from the heart.
"It's cool. It looks like my brother," said Chris Robertson. "My brother was a good person. I'm glad they asked my family to do this. He would be very happy to be part of this so that makes me happy."
The Rose Parade starts at 8:00 a.m. on New Year's Day.
With a sprinkle here and a dab there, Chris Robertson is touching up a unique portrait of his brother Joshua. It's a floral-graph of Joshua Robertson, one of 72 portraits that will be featured on the Donate Life float in this year's Rose Parade honoring 72 organ donors nationwide.
"It was good for me," said Joshua's mother Paula Robertson. "It just made me feel good that he was honored like this for doing something good in such a bad way of him dying."
Joshua Robertson died July 17th, 2009. He suffered fatal injuries while fighting three other men who were harassing a female drive-through clerk at a Del Taco restaurant in Bakersfield. After taking Robertson off life support, Joshua's family donated six of his organs.
Lori Malkin, founder of J.J.'s legacy, a local non-profit that promotes organ donation, nominated Joshua Robertson to be part of this year's Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. Malkin's son Jeffrey Johns was featured on last year's float in Pasadena.
Each portrait is made entirely of organic materials - dried flowers, herbs and spices. Family and friends gathered around the Robertson's dining room table as the final ingredients were added. Joshua's brother, Chris, was pleased with the family's work of art that comes from the heart.
"It's cool. It looks like my brother," said Chris Robertson. "My brother was a good person. I'm glad they asked my family to do this. He would be very happy to be part of this so that makes me happy."
The Rose Parade starts at 8:00 a.m. on New Year's Day.