REAR ADMIRAL A.B. CRUZ III NAMED INAUGURAL GRAND MARSHAL OF STARS & STRIPES INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
SAN ANTONIO, TX - As Downtown San Antonio prepares for one of its largest Independence Day celebrations in recent history, Centro San Antonio is proud to announce Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III, USN (Ret.) as the inaugural Grand Marshal of the Stars & Stripes Independence Day Parade.
The announcement marks a historic milestone for Stars & Stripes on Houston Street, presented by USAA, as the parade names its first-ever Grand Marshal during a landmark year celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Now in its third year, Stars & Stripes on Houston Street has grown from a signature parade into a full-day downtown celebration designed to bring Independence Day back to the heart of San Antonio. This year’s event includes the inaugural Stars & Stripes Downtown 5K, the Stars & Stripes Independence Day Parade, the Stars & Stripes Music & Food Festival, and the Stars & Stripes Downtown Spectacular, a fireworks display at Civic Park at Hemisfair.
At the center of the celebration remains the parade, the foundational event that launched the Stars & Stripes initiative and continues to reinvigorate the historic Houston Street corridor. In a city known as Military City, USA, naming Rear Adm. Cruz as the parade’s first Grand Marshal adds a meaningful and historic layer to this year’s celebration.
A San Antonio native, Rear Adm. Cruz attended Holy Spirit Catholic School and Antonian High School before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980. Throughout his distinguished military career, he held numerous operational and staff positions in special operations and special warfare, including multiple tours within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Enterprise and Naval Special Warfare community.
His personal decorations include three Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He is also a qualified advanced military parachutist and basic diver.
Beyond his military service, Rear Adm. Cruz has remained deeply connected to the San Antonio community. He has served on the boards of St. Mary’s Hall and the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, serves as board chair for the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas, is an active member of the Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation, and supports various ministries at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
His commitment to service also extends nationally. Rear Adm. Cruz currently serves as Chair of the U.S. Naval War College Foundation Board, Vice Chair of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, and a board member of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.
“Centro San Antonio could not be more honored to welcome Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III as the inaugural Grand Marshal of the Stars & Stripes Independence Day Parade,” said Trish DeBerry, President and CEO of Centro San Antonio. “His decades of service, deep San Antonio roots, and continued commitment to our community make him an extraordinary choice for this historic moment. As downtown shines for America’s 250th, Rear Adm. Cruz helps elevate this celebration into something truly worthy of Military City, USA.”
This year’s parade is produced in partnership with leading parade professionals, including Casey J. Watts, known for his work with San Antonio’s celebrated Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association. Guests can expect the patriotic energy and pageantry worthy of a national-scale celebration, with San Antonio’s parade set to be featured during ABC’s continuous coverage of America’s 250th as July 4th celebrations unfold across the country.
Stars & Stripes on Houston Street, presented by USAA, begins Saturday, July 4, 2026, with the Stars & Stripes Downtown 5K at 8:30 AM, followed by the Independence Day Parade, Music & Food Festival, and the Downtown Spectacular fireworks display at Civic Park at Hemisfair.
With the exception of registration for the Downtown 5K, all Stars & Stripes events are free to attend.
For full event details, updates, registration, and participation opportunities, visit starsandstripessa.com.