A favorite new Seguin tradition is coming up on November 23: TLU’s second annual Dia de los Veteranos celebration. This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than last year’s, offering fun for the whole family, including a car show, free food and drinks, live muralists, music, a moon bounce, and more. There will be tacos and barbecue, plus a vendor market offering everything from cotton candy to freeze-dried candy, t-shirts to tumblers to trinkets.
On top of all of that, eventgoers can register to win prizes—or even a voucher for a free turkey. More than 40 turkeys will be given away at the event, just in time for Thanksgiving.
The event is hosted by TLU’s Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), the Mexican American Student Association (MASA), and Veterans and Society Together (VAST). Dr. César Silva, Assistant Professor for Mexican American Studies and Director of CMAS, says last year’s event drew 36 cars and eight vendors, but this year, event planners are expecting many more cars and at least 23 vendors.
“TLU wants to honor all veteranos and veterans with a celebration of family and culture.” Silva says, adding that this event is “for all of us.”
Among those with cars on display will be Ladies De Lowriding—an all-female group of lowrider enthusiasts headed up by Mary Alice Carranza—who just happens to be grandmother to TLU senior Jazmin Rios, an Interdisciplinary Studies major who will graduate this December.
“Ever since I was a small child, I remember my grandmother and grandfather always doing something with their lowriders on the weekends. Whether it was fixing them up, cleaning them, or spending the day at a car show,” says Rios. “To my grandmother, it’s one of her passions that just keeps growing more and more every year.”
Lowriders are customized cars with their chassis lowered to be close to the ground. But they’re more than cars—they are a cultural centerpiece representing self-expression, heritage, and art. “They put so much time, energy, and money into their cars and it’s always a treat to go cruisin’ with them and see so many people appreciate the art,” says Rios. “And I also am super proud of (my grandmother) for founding an all-women’s San Antonio car club, and I can’t wait for them to show off a little at this event!”
Rios says Dia de los Veteranos is important to her family “because we come from a military family and are very proud to be Latinos and where we come from.” Her great grandfather was a hero who fought in the Korean War and received the Purple Heart as well as many other medals and honors. “My dad is also an Air Force veteran, and his dad is an army vet. It’s so important to remember our veterans, especially our Latino veterans for all that they’ve done.”
Dia de los Veteranos takes place on Saturday, November 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Langner Hall parking lot, spilling over into the campus. Mayor Donna Dodgen is scheduled to speak, TLU’s Mariachi Oro y Negro will serenade the crowd, and D.J. Chuko and D.J. Izzy are on tap to keep the music going into the evening. The event is free and open to the whole community.