SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Thousands of patriotic San Antonians lined downtown streets near the historic Alamo to watch the Stars and Stripes Independence Day Parade despite temperatures expected to near triple digits Saturday. The parade included traditional Fourth of July floats, military bands, and some Tex-Mex performances, adding to the patriotic display.
Breitbart Texas participated in an event promoted by the city as the Stars and Stripes on the Houston Street Independence Day Parade, intended to celebrate America’s 250th Independence Day.th birthday. The parade was launched in 2024 as a major Fourth of July parade after an absence of over a century.
Grand Marshal Admiral AB Cruz III (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
Rear Admiral AB Cruz III, USN (Ret.) was the official Grand Marshal of the parade. A native of San Antonio, Cruz began his military career after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980. Cruz retired from the Navy in 2013. Cruz’s selection as Grand Marshal adds a meaningful touch to America’s 250th Birthday celebration in a city also known as “Military City USA”. San Antonio is home to several military bases and a large number of active and retired-duty military personnel.
Fort Sam Houston Army Band (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
Fort Sam Houston’s 323rd Army Band led the parade through the city in a patriotic march, with other floats and performing groups following behind. Known as “Fort Sam’s Own”, it traces its lineage back to the historic fort’s military bands of 1893.
At one corner of the route, a trio of female singers entertained the crowd awaiting the arrival of the parade floats by singing patriotic songs, including some wartime victory songs from the 1940s in the style of the Andrews Sisters.
(Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
Adding a touch of southwestern flair, a troupe of Mexican folkloric dancers dressed in traditional attire with red, white and blue performed traditional dances during the parade, representing the local Tex-Mex culture in San Antonio.
The crowd in attendance appeared to be coping well with the high temperatures on Saturday. San Antonio is currently experiencing very hot weather similar to most of midsummer. The heat index regularly ranges between 99 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit on most days. Residents have become acclimated to the conditions, but tourists visiting the city may find it quite challenging to adjust to the heat.
(Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)
Fortunately, the Stars and Stripes Parade passed without any significant medical emergencies. Parades had to be canceled due to high temperatures in Washington, DC and Philadelphia. Many smaller parades and events in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were also canceled due to heat concerns.
Celebrating America’s 250 on Saturdayth The birthday will continue with several family events throughout the day in San Antonio and will conclude with a music and fireworks show at the city’s Woodlawn Lake Park later in the evening.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations and directed the operations of nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
