Seguin Mayor announces parade marshal
(Seguin) — Get ready to salute our local American heroes. Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen has announced local veterans organizations as this year’s 2024 Grand Marshals for the Biggest Small-Town Fourth of July Parade in Texas. The parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday in downtown Seguin.
Mayor Dodgen says there is nothing more patriotic than the men and women who have sacrificed their personal lives for our freedom. She says there can never be a valued thank you for our veterans.
“Our parade marshals are going to be the veterans organizations in town because that is really what we are celebrating is the freedom and they gave that to us and they continue.
The men and women of our armed forces continue to give that to us and so I want our veterans and especially the World War II veterans that we are losing so rapidly. I want to honor them and say thank you for doing all of this that we can do today,” said Dodgen.
Dodgen says residents are encouraged to show their full support as these veterans and their respective organizations take the lead at this year’s parade.
“What will happen is they will have a representative ride in a convertible and then behind them will be all the organizations,” said Dodgen.
Crowds exceeding 10,000 people are again expected to line-up along the Austin Street parade route which begins on East College Street and runs south to the Seguin Coliseum.
This year’s parade is said to have officially surpassed the average number of entries — marking it as one of the largest with 171 total entries.
The float entries, again, represent a variety of businesses, elected officials, churches, schools, sports teams and non-profit organizations.
In preparation for Thursday’s parade, the city of Seguin is asking that parade attendees not block parade route sidewalks with chairs and other items until the morning of the event. They warn that items blocking sidewalks prior to the morning of the parade could be removed by city staff.
Also to allow for the best parade viewing experience, drivers are urged to refrain from parking along the parade route.
The public is especially encouraged to bring water, hats, sunscreen and chairs to the parade. They ask that you be respectful if holding up an umbrella.
Kicking things off on Thursday will be the annual flag raising ceremony at 9 a.m. in Central Park. Music, speakers, pomp and circumstance will be among the events marking the significance of the day.
The Fourth of July Parade officially wraps up the city’s four day celebration which began on Saturday, June 29 with the annual KWED Freedom Fiesta in downtown Seguin.