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As the USA approaches its 250th anniversary, USAA is launching a nationwide effort to honor the service members, veterans and army households whose sacrifices helped make this milestone attainable. By way of group occasions throughout the nation and proper right here in San Antonio, the corporate will have fun the enduring connection between army service and the freedoms Individuals have loved for practically two and a half centuries.
“America’s 250th anniversary is a second to acknowledge the service members who wrote our historical past,” mentioned Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, head of company affect at USAA. “With 80,000 active-duty personnel and 90,000 veterans in Better San Antonio, we’re reminded each day that our freedoms have been earned by these in uniform. We’re proud to honor their service throughout this historic milestone.”
Celebrating 250 years of service and freedom
USAA is bringing communities collectively to have fun service members previous and current via particular programming centered on group, sacrifice and giving again.
USAA’s historical past has lengthy mirrored that of the army members and households it serves. From supporting members abroad throughout World Battle II to increasing eligibility to enlisted personnel in 1995, the corporate has developed alongside the army group whereas remaining steadfast in its dedication to those that serve. Supporting those that serve has been on the coronary heart of USAA’s mission for greater than a century, making the nation’s 250th anniversary a pure alternative to acknowledge the enduring contributions of the army group to the nation’s story.
Proudly often called “Navy Metropolis, USA,” San Antonio represents one of many nation’s strongest connections to the armed forces. It is usually central to USAA’s identification, from its founding roots to its workforce and member base. USAA’s native festivities replicate that deep connection, bringing collectively celebration, recognition and repair in ways in which honor the army group whereas strengthening town itself.
Stars & Stripes on Houston Avenue
A serious spotlight of the native festivities is the Stars & Stripes on Houston Avenue celebration on July 4. As a part of the On Houston Avenue collection, alongside Holidays on Houston Avenue, the occasion was created to activate one in every of San Antonio’s most historic corridors with experiences that convey Independence Day celebrations again to the guts of downtown.
Now in its third 12 months, Stars & Stripes has grown into downtown San Antonio’s signature Fourth of July celebration, bringing the group collectively for a full day of family-friendly enjoyable within the coronary heart of Navy Metropolis, USA. USAA is the presenting sponsor of the occasion, which is hosted by the Metropolis of San Antonio, Centro San Antonio and Go to San Antonio.
This 12 months, the celebration returns greater than ever for America’s 250th birthday with all-new experiences. Festivities embody the inaugural Downtown 5K, an Independence Day Parade and a Music & Meals Pageant. The day will culminate with the Downtown Spectacular fireworks show at Civic Park at Hemisfair, marking the return of downtown fireworks for the Fourth of July for the primary time in additional than a decade and the primary Independence Day fireworks show at Civic Park.
Group engagement and giving again
Past the Fourth of July, USAA is sponsoring a San Antonio Missions Minor League Baseball recreation on July 1 as a part of a broader nationwide initiative spanning roughly 15 cities. The sport will function army recognition moments, together with the “Hero of the Sport” program, which shares the tales of service members and veterans in significant and private methods. To broaden entry, USAA is providing complimentary tickets to active-duty service members, veterans, and USAA members.
USAA staff are additionally actively volunteering throughout San Antonio, reinforcing the assumption that honoring service means serving others. This contains taking part in initiatives resembling Gold Star Players, which helps Gold Star households, and the Warrior Video games, the place wounded, in poor health and injured service members show resilience and restoration via sport. USAA continues its work with Troopers’ Angels, a company deeply rooted in San Antonio that gives vital assets to service members, veterans and their households.
Moreover, staff will participate in a July 1 volunteer effort supporting Haven for Hope, an area homeless shelter, in partnership with Management San Antonio and different group organizations. They can even take part in a backpack distribution occasion with Operation Homefront to help army kids and households.
“In San Antonio, service shouldn’t be an summary concept; it’s woven into the material of our metropolis’s identification and each day life,” mentioned Saucedo-Herrera. “We invite the complete group to affix us this summer time — from the ballpark to the guts of downtown — as we come collectively to have fun our nation’s 250th anniversary, give again to our neighbors, and categorical our deepest gratitude to those that have served.”
