By Steve Walker
With just
seven days left in Fiesta 2014, I can’t help but reminisce about the past
Fiestas I have been fortunate to be an active part in over the last 30 years of
Fiesta.
As a past
President of the San Antonio Junior Chamber of Commerce, (aka Jaycees) I was
able to ride in one of the many floats in the Battle of Flowers Parade as well
as the River Parade in 1982 and 1983 during my one year term as President,
followed by one year as Chairman of the Board. I also marched in numerous other years as a
Jaycee board member as well.
One of
the big events of Fiesta for the Jaycees was La Semana Alegre held in the
HemisFair area for nearly twenty years. I actively participated in seven of
those events from 1977-1983.
During
that time we hosted many big name bands to perform nightly, along with providing
games and other activities during our Fiesta participation. The money we raised
was used to fund our non profit events such as the Orphan’s Christmas Shopping
Tour where we escorted kids from the local orphanages on a shopping spree at
Christmas for items such as clothes and shoes for school. We were never short
of escorts as the Fire Fighters and San Antonio Police Officers participated
along with us during the holidays. They got as much out of it as we did hosting
the event.
In the
late nineties and forward to 2007 as a Balcones Heights City Councilman or
Mayor Pro Tem, I was also able to ride in those same two parades on a float
representing the City.
For the
past seven years I have been actively covering Fiesta events by shooting photos
for my photo blog Walker Report and also for La Prensa. I begin my coverage
with the opening ceremony in the Alamo
Plaza , move on to events
like the Taste of New Orleans, the River Parade, the Battle of Flowers, and
various events each year. Sometimes I cover different events especially when
new ones are added to the schedule as other groups no longer participate.
One event
I am especially partial to covering since I can’t cover them all is the St.
Gregory’s Catholic Church Festival. As a graduate of St. Gregory’s in 1960 from
8th grade, I admit I favor that particular event.
Every
year I walk by my 8th grade classroom and reminisce about attending
the school experiencing flashbacks of holding out the palms of my hands to
allow Mother Mary John to take a whack with a ruler for my misdeeds and
misbehavior!
Invariably
I meet a student or two at the Festival event at the church whose classroom also
served as my 8th grade class.
With the
River Parade yet to come along with the Battle of Flowers, I might see some of
you out there in the streets with my camera and press pass. If so, be sure to
say hello and enjoy the rest of Fiesta.
As always,
what I write is “Just a Thought.”
Steve
Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.
No comments:
Post a Comment