LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
When the trees start to bud, the grass begins to green, pollen fills the air and leaves a coating everywhere, it can mean only one thing to San Antonians: Fiesta time is near.
Fiesta begins Thursday and runs through April 26.
Team Lackland will play a role in many events during the city's 118-year-old event including the base's own Fiesta parade April 22. The parade is open to the public and will be followed by an invitation-only reception for Fiesta royalty and officials.
About 1,000 people representing the base will participate in Lackland's tribute to Fiesta 2009, which starts at 9:30 a.m. at the parade grounds and is scheduled to last an hour.
"It's an opportunity for military members and the San Antonio community to interact," said Bill Gaines, chief, 37th Training Wing Civic Outreach, about opening the base for the parade and the wing's participation in Fiesta events. "At every Fiesta event, people stop and tell us how happy they are to have the military in San Antonio."
Parking at the parade grounds and the child development center is reserved that morning for off base visitors attending the event. Active-duty should park at the Gateway Club, wing headquarters or Godfather's pizza.
Fiesta royalty and officials, civic leaders, government officials and military commanders are invited to the Gateway Club reception after the parade.
Brig. Gen. Len Patrick, 37th TRW commander, will present Lackland Fiesta Medals to Charles Barrett, 2009 Fiesta Commission president; Stephen Cavender, King Antonio LXXXVII; and Charlie Garza, El Rey Feo LXI.
Organizations across Lack-land will participate in the parade, including the 341st Training Squadron's military working dogs and their handlers, and the Military Training Instructors. The 323rd Training Squadron Drum and Bugle Corps will provide music for the event.
Tech. Sgt. Raymond Rodriguez and Senior Airman Maribelle Hernandez, 2009 Lackland Ambassadors, will be involved in more than 50 Fiesta events, including appearances in the Battle of Flowers parade, the Texas Cavaliers river parade and the Fiesta Flambeau parade.
"I'm very excited," said Airman Hernandez. "It's a great opportunity to interact with the community and be a representative of the Air Force. There is so much behind-the-scenes work, and the people of San Antonio get so excited about Fiesta and pay such attention to detail."
General Patrick and Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis, 37th TRW command chief, will participate in a silent procession that begins at Municipal Auditorium downtown and proceeds to the Alamo for a wreath lying ceremony April 20.
Lackland will also host a Fiesta in Blue musical extravaganza at Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium for two nights, April 21-22.
The Air Force Band of the West's jazz ensemble, Dimensions in Blue, and Top Flight will perform.