Alamo Wing participates in Fiesta Finale Published May 1, 2017 By Tech. Sgt. Carlos J. Treviño 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 433rd Airlift Wing continued its tradition of participating in the City of San Antonio's 69th Annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade here, April 29. The theme of the 2017 parade was "City Lights and Celebrations”. For the fifth year in a row, the wing participated in "the largest illuminated night parade in the world" according to San Antonio Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association’s website. The wing's float paid homage to the wing's historical roots with a model C-5 Galaxy in front of a LED lighted wrought-iron silhouette of San Antonio. Fans cheered and exchanged high fives with the Citizen Airmen as they walked alongside the patriotically decorated "Alamo Wing" truck and float. The 433rd AW members absorbed admiration from over 700,000 spectators that lined the 2.6 mile parade route, with another estimated 750,000 viewers on television and on the Internet. Col. David A. Scott, 433rd AW vice commander said his previous experience at the parade was to see his son perform in the University of Texas marching band, but never as a participant. “The crowd was phenomenal,” he said. Some of the ladies on the float and walking with the float were dressed as the iconic, "Rosie the Riveter" from World War II. The Rosies were women who took over the manufacturing jobs primarily performed by men who departed to fight the Axis Powers. With signs proclaiming “We Can Do It,” the walkers held these signs up to the delight of the crowd. However, toward the beginning of the parade, the lights went out on the float. The Reservists lived up their signage as they made the repair to get the lighting system working again in a few minutes. “Adapt and overcome, getting the mission done no matter what,” Master Sgt. Leia Bernhard, a 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron senior Air Reserve Technician said. “Whatever obstacles get in the way, we overcome it,” she said. The on-the-spot repairs by the Alamo Wing members during the parade impressed Scott. “A lot of these folks were up to the task, the crowds were lifting us up even though the lights were out" he said. "In a just a few minutes, they got the lights back on, and it was all good." This was the first Fiesta parade for Staff Sgt. Kimberly Reyes, a 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance technician. Reyes was one of the Airmen leading the effort to design and build the float to represent the wing. In less than 10 days, Reyes had to draw her vision of the float to match the parade theme of "City Lights and Celebrations.” “My name is on the tag so I had to carry this mission through,” she said. “Everyone pulled together, there were a bunch of small parts that made a bigger picture. It was really nice to see the city out there supporting us." Scott was also impressed with the patriotism showed by the crowd during the parade. “This is Military City U.S.A,” Scott said reflecting on the honor and respect paid by the thousands of spectators crowding the streets. "From the leadership team, I want to extend a huge thank you to the Fiesta Flambeau Parade Committee from the wing that made it happen, this was a team effort," he said.