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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:48:33 GMT -5
The Battle of Flowers Paradse will be taking place on Alamo Plaza this coming Friday, the 25th of April and already the grandstands are going up. I took this and the following photos yesterday afternoon. This one was taken from the top of the grandstand looking toward the Alamo church. You are not likely to replicate this photo, lessen you are 25 feet tall!
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:49:10 GMT -5
The Low Barrack foundations, boxed in by grandstands.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:49:46 GMT -5
More grandstands, with the Alamo church barely visible in the distance.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:50:22 GMT -5
More grandstands, as seen from near the SW corner.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:50:57 GMT -5
Outside the west wall, looking toward the Alamo church past the Battle of Flowers grandstands.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:51:59 GMT -5
Randolph Art League Show on Alamo Plaza, yesterday.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 12:53:02 GMT -5
Alamo Park Ranger Hood, on the job, yesterday.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 16:50:27 GMT -5
Here's what the official Battle of Flowers Association has to say about it:
The Battle of Flowers Association: The Battle of Flowers Association originated as the Battle of Flowers Parade committee. In 1914 a constitution was adopted, a charter and seal were granted, and the name officially became The Battle of Flowers Association of San Antonio, with active membership limited to 400. Its purpose was designed to teach the history of our state and to keep alive the patriotic traditions of Texas and San Antonio. In 1992 The Battle of Flowers® was registered as our exclusive trademark and service mark.
The Battle of Flowers Parade: The idea for the first Battle of Flowers Parade was conceived early in 1891 by the wife of a congressman who had seen a similar parade in Spain. She suggested to her friends that a flower parade should be held in San Antonio each year on April 21 in memory of the fallen heroes at the Alamo and to commemorate the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, where Texas had gained its independence from Mexico. These ladies formed the Battle of Flowers Parade committee, enlisted the support of fellow community leaders and the planning began. The first parade had an actual "flower battle" with half of the fresh-flower-covered carriages, floats and bicycles going in one direction and the other half going in the opposite direction, tossing fresh flowers at each other as they passed. By 1895 the parade had developed into a weeklong celebration. The first Queen was chosen in 1896, Miss Ida Archer of Austin, and a King was chosen in 1897. In 1900, Miss Lola Kokernot was crowned Queen with a princess, duchesses and other attendants, and was the first Queen to have royal robes with a court. Parade royalty however, was "hit or miss" until several years later in 1909 when the Order of the Alamo selected a Queen, Princess and several Duchesses from San Antonio and other communities.
In 1901 the parade included its first horseless vehicle. By 1915-16 the parade had grown so much in scope that the floats could no longer be decorated with fresh flowers and artificial flowers were used. In 1973 the tradition of association members wearing yellow hats on parade day began and in 1976 association members started wearing yellow dresses. In 1991 to celebrate the parade's centennial anniversary, former association presidents arrived in carriages and tossed flowers at each other and spectators as was done in the first parade. Today it includes some 40 flower-covered floats, dozens of military, college and high school bands, cavalcades, horse-drawn carriages, antique cars and giant, helium balloons. The Battle of Flowers Parade has been held every year since its beginning except during war times and originated what we now call Fiesta® San Antonio.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 16:52:12 GMT -5
Ted Cole has a personal interest in this year's Battle Of Flowers Celebration. Says Ted: Ashley Mayle is the daughter of my cousin Joanna Cole Mayle in San Antonio! My dad Ted`s twin brother Ned had 4 daughters and 1 boy with Joanna being his oldest daughter! Fiesta Queen, Ashley Mayle TRINITY CELEBRATES FIESTAMiss Fiesta San Antonio 2008 is a Trinity Sophomore By Susie P. Gonzalez April 2008 Trinity Sophomore Ashley Mayle has gone from winner of her fifth grade spelling bee at Laurie Auditorium to president of her high school senior class to Miss Schertz to rush chair of her sorority to Miss Fiesta San Antonio 2008. Good thing that her philosophy is: “The more things I have to do, the happier I am.” The daughter of Donna and Robert Mayle of Schertz, Ashley said she felt like she fit in at Trinity from her first campus visit. She holds leadership positions with the pre-law fraternity and the children’s shelter initiative of Trinity University Volunteer Action Committee. She plans to double major in political science and business administration and is mulling over options to attend law school and a possible future as a juvenile court judge or a business career after earning an MBA. Enrolled in 15 hours this semester, she breezed through a micro-economics exam in early February to put the finishing touches on Bid Day for her social sorority, Sigma Theta Tau. Once bids were issued to the new actives, she left campus for a dress rehearsal for the Miss Fiesta Scholarship Pageant. She remained calm despite a wardrobe glitch involving the hem of her evening gown and rebounded the next morning for the big event in the Charline McCombs Empire Theater. She had undergone a grueling rehearsal schedule involving three to four hours every Saturday for five months. In place of a talent competition, the pageant requires contestants to perform a two-minute monologue show- casing a historical figure. Drawing upon her theatrical productions at Incarnate Word High School, Ashley chose Adina de Zavala, who was responsible for preserving the barracks after the fall of the Alamo. “She was very passionate and barricaded herself for three days in front of the Alamo to preserve it.” This year’s pageant had 15 finalists – Ashley was second to the youngest (at age 19) but she was the tallest (at 5’ 8 ½ ”.) When the emcee called her contestant number as the winner, she said her knees buckled. “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life.” In addition to a tiara and the cool factor of being Miss Fiesta, Ashley won a $3,000 college scholarship. This month, she will visit schools and nursing homes and appear in Fiesta parades. When she returned to campus after the pageant, her residence hall room was filled with 10 bouquets of pink flowers, pink streamers, and cards. (Pink is her favorite color.) “Students on campus have been wonderful. It’s all over Facebook, and people I don’t even know have come up to me and given me a hug. Everyone has been so supportive.” That includes 27 of her sorority sisters who cheered wildly as she was crowned. “I did this because I love Trinity and I want to be involved in Trinity. I want to be involved in my community as well. I want to serve the community. I didn’t do this as a resume builder. I genuinely want to serve.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2008 Trinity University ON CAMPUS
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Post by neferetus on Apr 23, 2008 18:39:38 GMT -5
More info on Ashley Mayle from Ted:
> Ashley Mayle, granddaughter of Ned and Jean Cole of Port Arthur, > daughter of Robert and Joanna (Cole) Mayle of Schertz, TX, recently > won the Miss Fiesta San Antonio 2008 Scholarship Pageant. She is a 19 > year old junior at Trinity University, double majoring in Business > Administration and Political Science with ambition to attend law > school. Just out of high school, Ashley worked with the Schertz City > Government to spearhead the creation of the Schertz Youth Commission.
> She served on the Schertz Sweetheart Court, was formerly Miss > Friendly City and also Miss Schertz. Ashley is a member of Sigma > Theta Tau Sorority, currently serving as Informal Rush Chair, and is > Vice President of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. Her greatest > hope is to become a Judge in the Juvenile Court System. Ashley’s > passion for working with children is reflected by her volunteer work > with San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry, Battered Women’s Shelter and > Seton Hall. Through Trinity University, she is head of Trinity > University Volunteer Action Group, whereby she coordinates volunteers > and events at Meadowlands Children’s Shelter. >
> Ashley’s pre-pageant interview captivated the judges. When asked > “Who is the person you most admire?”, she quickly responded, “My 17 > year old Down’s Syndrome sister, Lindsay. She wakes up every morning > smiling, no matter how cruelly she’s been treated by people who point > at her, make rude remarks or even shush their children away from her.” > Ashley states she is quick to give Lindsay a hug, feels sorry for the > ones who mistreat her and even says a prayer for them. Ashley is > indeed beautiful – inside and out!
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Post by seguin on Apr 23, 2008 20:27:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Nef! I hope they don´t use artificial flowers anymore as they once did. Who wants to look at artificial flowers? Anyway, It´s a great tradition!
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:10:23 GMT -5
I took plenty of pics of last Friday's Battle of Flowers Parade. Hope you enjoy them. These ladies of the Battle of Flowers Association were mighty willin' girls.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:11:05 GMT -5
Pre-parade Battle of Flowers Association party by Alamo Hall.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:11:58 GMT -5
The parade route by Alamo Plaza, before the festivities.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:12:31 GMT -5
The Alamo, prior to the parade.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:13:04 GMT -5
The old 'Mo.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:13:34 GMT -5
My parade seat was directly across the street from King's X and the Menger Hotel.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:14:02 GMT -5
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:24:11 GMT -5
Four of the Six Flags over Texas.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 30, 2008 7:24:44 GMT -5
Grand Marshal.
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