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Military City U.S.A. cheers Alamo Wing

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 433rd Airlift Squadron continued its tradition of participating in the City of San Antonio's 66th Annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade, April 25, 2015.


The wing joined "America's largest illuminated night parade" according to event officials. The " Alamo Wing" members absorbed admiration from over 600,000 spectators that line the 2.8 mile parade route, with another estimated 750,000 viewers on television and on the Internet.

The theme of this year's parade was "Television: Then and Now. The wing's float paid homage to the wing's history, then the 433rd Troop Carrier Group, and now the 433rd Airlift Wing, by decorating the float in the fashion of and the television series, M*A*S*H, a comedy about doctors in a war zone saving lives and their sanity during the Korean War.

Wing members who walked the route received high fives from spectators, some even holding up signs of support. Fans cheered them as they walked alongside the patriotically decorated "Alamo Wing" truck and float.

The float was distinguished by a prominently displayed image of the "Alamo Wing's" logo, which was outlined in red LED lights. It displayed signage from its days when the 433rd Troop Group activated Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facilities (M*A*S*Fs) to assist wounded military personnel. The lighted archway in the front of the float was outlined with silhouettes of different aircraft the wing has flown throughout its history.

Float participants included Lt. Col. Jimmie P. Brooks, commander of the 356rd Airlift Squadron, Col. Anthony Pena, 433rd Medical Squadron commander, Maj. Adriana Valadez, 433rd Aeromedical Squadron flight nurse and Staff Sgt. Amanda Pena, a medical technician also with the 433rd AMDS.

"I was shocked by the amount of people; it was great," said Brooks. "What surprised me were the people who came out of their seats in support of the military. It was humbling," he said.

Brooks said he has been to the parade before, but never as a participant. "I have always marveled at the beautiful floats going by, but as somebody riding in it and seeing the enthusiasm the people had for the military, it really makes you feel good."

The teamwork involved  putting the float in front of a worldwide audience also impressed Brooks. "Enough can't be said about the people who put this together. Herlinda Fernandez and the rest of her team worked many weekends to get us to this point," Brooks said. 

"It takes a lot of coordination," Fernandez, the 433rd parade coordinator said at the parade's conclusion.  She spearheaded the effort to get the wings float in the parade for the second time this decade.

"Look at all this teamwork putting this together," she said as the float was assembled prior to the parade in downtown San Antonio. "There were so many people from so many different units, when are you going to see this again. It is great for our folks and the community, and they (the Airmen) get the gratitude from people," she said.

"I think everyone in the Wing should take the opportunity to come forward and work on this, you walk away with pride, and it was a great success.  The 433rd got great exposure tonight, and for that I am grateful," Fernandez said.

The entire Flambeau experience left a lasting impression on other participants who are looking forward to next year's parade already.

"I'll do it again next year," Staff Sgt. Alison Espinoza, a personnel specialist with the 433rd Force Support Squadron, said enthusiastically.  "We should convince more 433rd Airmen to come join us. You get recognized by the community, and it makes you feel proud. I didn't do this to get something out of it, I want to show the San Antonio community the appreciation they are giving us," she said after walking with the float.

"I think the (audience support) is great. We go out and serve all the time and it's nice to come home and see the reception we get from our fellow San Antonians. And how thankful they are for the service that we give," he said.