San Marcos To Host Annual Veterans Day Parade

San Marcos City Offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 12, in observance of the Veterans Day Holiday.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, the City of San Marcos will host the 2018 Veterans Day Parade at 10 AM. This year’s theme will be Honoring All Who Served.

At 8:30 AM, a free biscuit and gravy breakfast sponsored by Café on the Square will be served on the Hays County Courthouse lawn.

Head to Toe Dance and A Capella Unlimited will provide entertainment leading up to the parade starting at 9 AM. Veteran groups, military organizations, civic clubs, bands, drill teams, public officials, equestrians, youth teams, classic vehicles and others will participate in the Veterans Day Parade.

Parade Marshals

This year’s Grand Marshals are Henry Garza, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and Col. Theodore Dake, M.D., U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Henry Garza was born and raised in San Marcos, joining the Navy in 1942 shortly after reading about the attack on Pearl Harbor. He had no idea where Pearl Harbor was when he joined the Navy, but he knew his country needed him.

Garza served aboard a ship involved in the bombardment of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he survived being sunk by Kamikazes. Garza retired from the Navy in 1962 after serving as a Ship’s Service Man on five vessels over the course of his career.

Col. Theodore Dake, MD served in the Naval Reserve and the Air Force in a career spanning from 1948 – 1978. In his junior year at the University of Oklahoma, he was drafted and joined the Air Force as a pilot trainee.

He served as a distinguished pilot and physician flying missions in spy planes, training other pilots and sharing his medical skills with American and Allied soldiers. He is the only person in the military to have all three ratings of Command Pilot, Master Parachutist and Chief Physician.

Parade Route

The parade will begin on Hopkins Street at the intersection of CM Allen and will travel toward the Courthouse. After passing the Courthouse, the parade will turn left onto Guadalupe Street, then turn left onto San Antonio Street, travel down San Antonio Street and turn left onto CM Allen Parkway.

The parade will then turn right onto Hopkins Street where they will return to the line-up area for disbanding.

Children are invited to join the Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade by decorating and riding in their own parade from 9 AM to 10 AM. preceding the main Veterans Day parade.

Children ages five and older with bicycles, training wheels and scooters are welcome to bring their bikes and helmets to the Courthouse lawn and decorate then with free flags, streamers and sign materials. All kids that participate in the Bicycle Brigade will be entered into a drawing to win bicycles, courtesy of Academy Sports and Outdoors. 

For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 512.393.8400 or email jmach@sanmarcostx.gov.