San Marcos Veterans Day Parade This Saturday
The 2016 Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. in Downtown San Marcos.
The parade is sponsored by the City of San Marcos with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and local veterans’ organizations.
U.S. Army Veteran Tom Tvrdik will be the grand marshal for this year’s parade, which is themed Honoring All Who Served.
Tvrdik has served as the Commander of the San Marcos American Legion Post 144, served in Vietnam as a Military Police Officer, received the Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Tvrdik worked many years as the Hays County Veterans Service Officer where he assisted other veterans with their VA claims and transporting those in need directly to the VA Hospital.
A free biscuit and gravy breakfast will be served on the County Courthouse lawn beginning at 8:30 a.m. along with entertainment leading up to the parade.
Veteran groups, military organizations, civic clubs, bands, drill teams, public officials, equestrians, youth teams, classic vehicles and others will be participating in the Veterans Day Parade which will begin at 10 a.m.
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 ages 5 and older are invited to join the Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade and show their support for veterans by decorating and riding their bikes from 9-10 a.m. preceding the parade.
Children may bring their bikes and helmets to the Courthouse lawn and decorate with free flags, streamers, and sign materials. Kiwanis Club members will escort the children into the parade. Bicycles, training wheels, and scooters are welcome.
The 2016 Veterans Day Parade is the first event that I’ve attended in San Marcos.
The GOOD:
1. I noticed a homeless man sitting on a bench adjacent to the square. I directed him over towards the park, informing him “They’re serving free breakfast.” I later learned that he was fed.
2. Congressman Doggett’s appearance both on the platform and in the parade was inspiring. I recognize that he’s a politician and that his appearance was just as much, maybe more, for his benefit as for the citizens, but that he would put the small city of San Marcos on his schedule was really decent.
The BAD:
1. The event seemed very much disorganized. I overheard a female police officer on the phone saying, “Who’s coordinating this parade? None of the streets have been closed off.” Overall, there was a lot of waiting and clearly no adherence to a schedule, if there was in fact a schedule.
2. I approached the tent that was passing out flags, pencils and other patriot memorabilia. I was told that the items were intended for the children, not adults, yet there were many adults wearing the headbands and in possession of the other items. I walked away wondering whether I was the only individual denied; the only black person.
3. Once the event commenced, there were many delays, to include a very long delay in the parade, with the marching band being about 10 minutes behind the pervious group. The emcee should have committed some time to practice before the parade, as he stumbled through his script; he did a very poor job announcing the difference groups and enunciating the names for the tributes.
4. Standing out front taking photographs, the individuals representing the various civic clubs and local groups literally had to walk around and/or behind me to give away the items that they were passing out. Not a single person handed me anything, but gave their articles only to the whites and Mexicans.
I’m not a Texan. But I am a veteran who severed 21 years in the Armed Services. When I moved to Texas five years ago, I was told by a white lady in Home Depot that if I wanted to find people of my own race I should have moved to Houston. After Saturday’s event, I came to believe that maybe there was some truth to her comment, as I only noticed two other black people present besides the one black lady in the singing group. In the military I was never overlooked and was proud to have given 21 years of my life in service to this nation…which includes the small city of San Marcos that treated me as though I was invisible.
Toni,
I am the owner and publisher of the San Marcos Corridor News and I cover for my staff on Sunday’s. As I read your comment, it made me very sad, and I am truly sorry for your experience.
Clearly, from your experience, we, as a city, have failed in our responsibility and apparently not only to our veterans.
We have failed and no person should have ever been made to feel that way, no matter the color of his or her skin.
Thank you for enlightening my organization, but most importantly, thank you for your service.