By Herb Moering

“Fiesta” was short and sweet as Winter Texans celebrated Alamo’s Texas Independence Day with a parade on a brightly lit sunshine-filled Saturday morning.

The Alamo Chamber of Commerce sponsored parade drew a large crowd of mostly residents from Winter Ranch and Trophy Gardens RV Parks in Alamo. The parade was to honor Alamo resident Irene Martinez, who has been a faithful parade spectator for many years, but not able to come this year. And the parade honors the memory of those Texans who declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and also commemorates the 13-day siege inspiring the message to “Remember the Alamo” in San Antonio, where 189 defenders died 189 years ago.

The two RV parks dominated the parade entries and received lots of applause from the spectators mainly lining Business 83 along the north side of Central Park. The parks’ members also took home the trophies with the grand overall going to Winter Ranch participants. A first place trophy was garnered by the combined line dance team from the two parks, with second place belonging to a Fiesta style Trophy Gardens float with riders Linda, Keri Lynn and Glyn, and third place went to a decorated golf cart with Connie and Colleen from Trophy Gardens.

After the trophy presentations and earlier comments by Mayor J.R. Garza, city commissioners, and Albert Rodriguez, chamber of commerce chairman and “Citizen of the Year” recipient, the line dancers added another performance to close out the day’s parade program.

Among the spectators was Winter Texan Kathy Maynard, an 18-year Winter Ranch resident whose husband Scott was in the parade with the line dancers. Kathy, who was primarily a secretary before retiring, lives the summers in Michigan.

With her were the Muellers, Will and Grace (not the TV couple), according to Will. The pair from Illinois, who have been married for 60 years, have come to Trophy Gardens for 15 years. Like most folks, they like the weather. Will originally worked 10 years as a semi-truck driver and 17 years as an engineer for the Otis Elevator Company. Grace was a school music teacher for 34 years and down here she plays with a jam band at the Roadrunner RV Park.

A number of spectators were from Minnesota including Tom and Brenda Berent. They have been coming to the Valley for six years following retirement. Tom was in the U.S. Air Force in addition to being an electronics technician. Brenda worked for six years at Tonka Toys and then joined the local school district as an administrative assistant for most of her 29 years.

The Berents began with just a couple of months’ stay in the Valley at Winter Ranch, but the time kept increasing and now it’s four plus months for the winter. Tom thought the lower costs here were amazing. Brenda said, “I love it down here,” and has found there is so much going on that it can be a bit tiring between cards, bingo, dominoes and eating out. Tom enjoys shuffleboard a lot, playing almost every day. It has gotten to be sort of a family affair with relatives coming to stay here in the winter. In fact, Brenda’s sister is due for a week’s visit next week now that she and her husband are retired.

With the Berents watching the parade there were family and friends from Minnesota including Ray and Glenda Uselman, who have been at Winter Ranch for 18 years and Mike and Kathy Kust, 12 years of coming here.

People come because it’s all about the warm weather, the numerous activities and friends you make. Ask just about any Winter Texan and you’ll get the same answer.