Holiday parade to feature two new entrants

The ninth annual Fourth of July Parade will feature two new entrants this year will begin at 10:15 this morning at the corner of Fourth and Elizabeth streets in downtown Brownsville.

The parade, which is sponsored by The Brownsvile Herald, will feature 44 entries including first-time appearances by the Texas Army National Guard 36th Infantry Division Band and Color Guard as well as the mounted Vaqueros Unidos de Brownsville.

According to 1st Sgt. Eddie Daffern, the band had always wanted to come to Brownsville and play in the parade, because ``one of members, Juan Rodriguez, lives in Brownsville and had always told us it was a nice community, we've found this to be true and have had a pleasant experience so far."

After performing in the parade, the band will head over to the Brownsville Sports Park for the city's holiday festivities which begin at 4 p.m.

According to Julio Morales, vice-president of Vaqueros Unidos de Brownsville, their group is excited and ready, but no not nervous, since "half of us have come out in parades before, like the Charro Days parade, as well as other parades around the Valley."

Other entries will include local businesses, car clubs, non-profit organizations and beauty pageant winners.