Lackland Air Force Base San Antonio, Texas

As I stated earlier, we arrived in San Antonio to watch our oldest grandson graduate from Navy "A" school. This is a tech school after boot camp where the sailors train for whatever position they think they would like in the military. Josh decided he'd like to become an MP, which the Navy calls Master at Arms. He would like to follow that with becoming a dog handler. This training is done at the Naval Facility in conjunction with the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base. As you might have guessed, we are pretty proud of him and his accomplishments.

Lackland Air Force base covers over 7,000 acres in San Antonio. It's Joint Base Operations combined three adjoining but separate military facilities into one as a result of the Military Consolidation Act of 2005. In addition to the Air Force, it also is home to the Naval Security Forces 

Lackland AFB is home to many vintage aircraft which they have on display. Here, Joshua and I are in front of one of my favorites, the Blackbird. If you've never had the opportunity to see this plane in action, you missed a fabulous sight.

The MA rating provides Navy Ships and commands with force protection/antiterrorism specialists who assist in maintaining good order and discipline, law enforcement, and physical security duties. MA's enforce appropriate orders and regulations, make apprehensions, conduct investigations/interrogations and prepare required records and reports. 

Graduating class consisted of 34 sailors who excelled in their training. Here they just received their diplomas and their badges. After graduation, the sailors get a two week hiatus before reporting to their duty stations. Orders sent some of these sailors to Japan, Guam, Hawaii and Korea. Others were sent to various facilities within the USA.

Josh and his very proud Grandma.

After graduation, we headed downtown for some sightseeing. First stop was the Alamo. For those needing a history refresher, the Alamo was a former Franciscan Mission and was used as a military outpost during Texas' fight for freedom from Mexico. In 1836, roughly 200 soldiers, including Jim Bowie, William Travis and Davy Crockett held off the invading Mexican army numbering over 5000 for 13 days before being overcome and slaughtered.

For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became an enduring symbol of their heroic resistance to oppression and their struggle for independence, which they won late in 1836.  Those that died during those 13 days of glory, will be remembered forever.

The San Antonio Riverwalk is a 15 mile strip of concrete that follows the San Antonio River through San Antonio, Texas. It is a bikeway and hiking trail that follows the river through the City. The most famous section is the Downtown Reach. Almost 2.5 miles long and one story beneath the streets of San Antonio, this area of the river is lined on both sides by bars, shops, restaurants, nature and public artwork. The remaining two sections of the riverwalk provide access to five historic missions.

Originally planned in 1926, the San Antonio RiverWalk was not accepted favorably in the community. However, with the construction of the nearby Olmos Dam gradually the people felt it was a benefit to the City. Construction began as a WPA (Works Projects Administration) project in 1938. The WPA was part of the American New Deal agency that employed millions of unemployed to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. Under the WPA, 17,000 feet of walkways and 20 bridges were constructed. The first restaurant, the Casa Rio which you see in the background, opened for business in 1946, The San Antonio Riverwalk is a work in progress and it continues to be improved to this day. It's achieved world acclaim and has inspired other walks in Charlotte, NC, Denver, Colorado and the Santa Lucia Riverwalk in  Monterrey, Mexico^,