Seguin's Favorite High School Band, The Mighty Matador Marching Band

Seguin has one public high school, two middle schools, one school for sixth graders, and many elementary schools. Students begin learning how to play a band instrument in the sixth grade, and they officially join the high school band, called the Mighty Matador Band, in the summer between their eighth grade and freshman year. The Fourth of July parade is one of the first, if not the first, event that the newbies get to play with the big kids. 

Here are some shots of the band as they wait for the parade to begin, and then as they start marching onto Austin Street. 

You may not know that my husband plays the saxophone....well, that is why I have featured the sax section. These guys were very accomodating when I asked them to pose, and then I got down on the ground to take this shot. There's no telling what was actually going through their minds. I suppose it doesn't really matter, though. All that matters to this photographer is getting the shot. 

Watching the Parade Pass By

Seguin has a population of about 30,000 people...not a tiny town, but definitely not a sprawling metropolis. The annual Fourth of July parade is one of the highlights of the whole year for the town. According to the local newspaper, there were about 15,000 people lining Austin Street to watch the parade. That's a lot of folks for a town like Seguin.

Today's post has lots of pictures, but little commentary. Here is a broad view of the folks lining Austin Street to watch Seguin's Fourth of July parade. As you can see, there are lots and lots of folks lined up to see the parade. 

Here are some pictures of the spectators...lining the street, sitting under gazebos, sitting on the back of pick up trucks, sitting on curbs, sitting on lawn chairs in people's front yards, sitting on porches....enjoy!

Classic Cars Get Dressed Up For the Parade

Oh my, how I love classic cars. I love the clean lines, the elegance, the flamboyance of the cars of yesteryear. Here are several cars which were waxed and shined up, and bedecked with ribbons, flowers, bows and flags. I hope you enjoy them!

1955 Pontiac Starfire 

for Mariah Kilbourne, Ms. Wheelchair Texas

1957 Ford Thunderbird

for Robin Walker, Republican 

candidate for Guadalupe County Commissioner, Prec. 1

1967 Chevy Chevelle SS

for Virginia Woods, Parade Marshall

Founding Member of Seguin Conservation Society

Ford Model A (1927-1931)

for My Father's Tools

A Handyman Service

1957 Chevrolet Apache

Commander, Retired  Sgt. Major Gilbert V. Rodriguez, 

Viet Nam Veteran

San Antonio Armed Forces Parade Association

Parade Royalty...Crowns and Smiles on Display

One of the staples of any respectable parade is the parade royalty riding on floats or horses or shiny cars. Seguin's 2012 Fourth of July parade had it's fair share of queens, princess and duchesses. Here are some that I came across as I walked with my camera.

These gals are the Guadalupe County Fair Association representatives. The Queen is in the middle, wearing the blue, and she is flanked by the princess and duchess. This was one of the first floats I came to as I started my walk. It was early, there was still almost an hour until the parade started, so the young women were lounging on the float, wearing their crowns, their camisole tops draped with their sashes, but they were wearing shorts, not their long skirts. I introduced myself and asked if I could take their picture, and they jumped up and started to put on their skirts, which are basically a long apron with a tie. I assured them that I would take their picture from the waist up. They didn't need to put on their royal garb just for me, since there was still so much time to pass until the parade started. However, they insisted, as they flashed their royal smiles. What sweet girls...

Next, I came across several young women wearing western attire...you know, white hat, lots of silver and gold, big belt buckles, jeans...Here is Guadalupe County's Miss Round-up, along with her beautiful ride, a sweet-tempered horse.

The city of Luling, which is only about twenty miles away, always sends their Watermelon Thump queen and her attendants. Luling has a watermelon festival in June, and these ladies  serve as the royal court for their city. The vivid red and bright greens in their float make a wonderful backdrop for the young women.

These two young women are sisters from the town of Yoakum, which is about 50 miles south-east of Seguin. Yoakum is renowned for its leather products, so, of course, their royal garb is leather. Their mother (I think she was their mother, anyway) talked to me for a bit and told me all about the store that provided the costumes, Double D Ranchwear. She said that the pink fringed jackets probably cost at least $600 each, and that the total for each of the girls' outfits was probably around $1000. The queen and her sister sure look proud and happy, don't they?

While I think about it, I want to say thank you to all the people I met and photographed on the Fourth....everyone was so gracious and hospitable to me. So, come back in the next few days as I post several more blogs on different facets of Seguin's parade.

Seguin's Fourth of July Kids (2012)

Americans celebrate our independence with lots of red, white and blue. As I walked the parade staging grounds, yesterday, I had a great time visiting with the folks who were going to be in the parade, as well as the spectators. 

I came across a float filled with children dressed up as some of the icons of American history. This little boy shows a natural instinct for how to pose for a photographer. 

Here are three more of the float's participants...the little girl represents the Statue of Liberty, the boy with the beard is dressed up as Abraham Lincoln, and the boy with the red, white and blue face  paint is supposed to be Benjamin Franklin.

This little girl was sitting on one of the floats, and as they travelled the parade route, she caught my eye.

These two girls are patriotic "angels" riding in a little train that advertised for Angel Pest Control. I have seen that company put some really cute entries into the parade over the years.

Fourth Of July Celebrates Freedom...It Doesn't Come Cheap

Today is July 4th, the day Americans celebrate freedom. Traditionally, we celebrate with parades and fireworks. Seguin pride's itself on putting on the largest parade of any small town in Texas, and this year, there were about 150 entrants in the parade. Each year, I get my camera and walk the streets lining the parade, taking pictures of the participants and their floats so that I can share some of the patriotic celebration with my friends and readers around the world.

Today, I am starting my series of blogs on the Fourth of July with a few photographs of the heros of our country, the folks who have served in the different branches of our armed service. These folks  believe that the only way our country will stay free is if we have soldiers who are willing to defend our country against all aggressors who wish to destroy the United States of America. These men and women do not make our foreign policy, they do not choose where they will serve, they just selflessly go where they are sent and do what they are told to do. So, we are still free today, and I wish to say thank you to each of them.

Here are a few of our servicemen who were in the parade. They are our heros.