In celebration of Juneteenth, members of Fred Brock Post 828, along with city officials and various civic, fraternal and community organizations, gathered at Sam Houston High School on the East Side to take part in the 25th Annual Juneteenth Day Parade.

The parade was coordinated by the San Antonio Juneteenth Freedom Coalition, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998. The parade started at the high school and concluded at Comanche Park, which was the venue for the Juneteenth Festival, featuring a performance by the disco-funk band Heatwave.

This year's parade grand marshal was Doloris Blaire-Williams, affectionately known as "Mama Dee," and renowned for her dedication to serving the community.

The parade theme was “Remembering our Past - Celebrating the Present - Anticipating our Future.”

“I was extremely proud to have been able to participate in this year’s parade and represent the post, which is mostly comprised of Black veterans,” said Post 828 Commander Burrell Parmer. “Additionally, numerous veterans participated in the parade representing many organizations such as the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers and Prince Hall Shriners, many of whom are members of the post.”

Juneteenth is a national holiday dedicated to honoring the freedom of all enslaved people following the Civil War.

The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where enslaved individuals learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865, following the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln.

The San Antonio Juneteenth Freedom Coalition’s mission is to educate the community and surrounding areas about the meaning, history and importance of Juneteenth, which is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19.

The mission of Post 828 is to enhance the well-being of San Antonio's veterans, their families, the military and the community by its devotion to mutual helpfulness.