Downtown parade highlights activities honoring Veterans in San Antonio this weekend

Retired Marine Corps General Angie Salinas will lead the 20th annual U.S. Military Veterans Parade Saturday in downtown San Antonio.

Pearl Harbor survivor Gilbert Meyer and World War II veteran Thomas Fajardo, who also fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, will serve as honorary grand marshals.

“I am absolutely honored delighted and humbled, all at the same time,” said Salinas. “More importantly, to be in the shadows of these wonderful veterans who have served before us.”

Salinas, who currently serves as CEO of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is from Alice, Texas. She went from private to Major General of the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring after 39 years of service.

Salinas, Meyer and Fajardo will be honored guests, along with dignitaries from every branch of the Armed Forces, at a wreath ceremony at the Alamo at 10 a.m. Saturday. The USMVPA Veterans Parade will step off at noon on Avenue E at East Travis. It will travel west on Houston Street to Flores Street and go north to West Travis. Floats, bands and military units will proceed South on N. Santa Rosa to West Houston and disband near Milam Park between the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and Market Square. A USMVPA Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5:30 pm at Milam Park.

The ROTC Drill Team Competition featuring are high schools will kick off the activities at 8:30 a.m. at Alamo Plaza.

For more information on the activities and the parade route, visit the USMVPA website.