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Slideshow: 17th annual U.S. Military Veterans Parade

November 18, 2016
Updated: November 18, 2019 - 5:29 PM
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Collective Corps, Community, Multimedia, Series

Alyssa Zapata

Slideshow: 17th annual U.S. Military Veterans Parade - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Attendees shook hands and shared a few hugs during the parade. This years parade was dedicated to the late San Antonio native, Corporal Fernando F. Reyes (September 7, 1921-June 7, 2012), United States Army Air Corps World War II Veteran. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

Ruth Martinez and Andres Vicenes lead A&M students in the parade downtown. There is no politics here, everyone is a team to honor Veterans alive and those who have passed, Vicenes said. Texas A&M San Antonio students gathered around downtown San Antonio as they marched in honor of Veterans Day. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

Biology senior, Marina Brown, dances with flags in her hair before the commencement of the parade. Brown is also President of A&M Biology Club, whos dad was a Senior Master Sargent in the Air Force. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

Richard Delgado Jr., Director of Military Affairs and ROTC, and his son drive as the tail of A&M's marching section . Photo by Alyssa Zapata

Arsenio De Lara, and other participates of the parade handed out American flags to attendees. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

A Veteran attendee salutes A&M Veteran students as they pass by. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

Ruth Martinez, criminology sophomore, is part of the ROTC program. "This parade is honoring and celebrating past and future military", Martinez said. Photo by Alyssa Zapata

By Alyssa Zapata

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Texas A&M University-San Antonio participated in the 17th annual U.S. Military Veterans Parade Nov. 12th.

The U.S. Military Veterans Parade Association spearheaded the parade, because of their love to the city’s military heritage. The association’s goal is to present a Veteran’s parade considered the ‘crowning jewel’ for Celebrate America’s Military Week in San Antonio.

Considered “Military City, U.S.A,” San Antonio has had a constant military presence for almost 300 years. The city houses the one of the nation’s largest active and retired military populations.

The first parade only had a handful of participants.As it progressed, the parade gained national attention, and continues to grown in prestige, acclaim and length. It now annually receives almost 250 entries.

About the Author

Alyssa Zapata

Alyssa Zapata is a junior at Texas A&M-San Antonio. She's a reporter at The Mesquite. Alyssa worked with The Ranger at San Antonio College as a reporter and then editor. She hopes to graduate next fall 2017 with a major in communications and minor in political science. After completing her bachelor's degree, she hopes to work as a producer in broadcasting. She is a part-time optician from Natalia, Texas.