In 1950, President Harry Truman declared the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day, but in San Antonio, we honor that proclamation every day!
According to the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, our city’s top two employers are two of our military bases: Fort Sam Houston and Lackland AFB. These, in addition to Randolph AFB, Camp Bullis and former installations now known as Port San Antonio (Kelly AFB) and Brooks City Base (Brooks AFB), help give the Alamo City its name of Military City, USA.
Nothing is more inspiring than seeing young people in uniform with their families visiting our tourist sites or hearing the inspirational stories of our brave wounded warriors recovering at the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam’s Brooke Army Medical Center.
Some troops only pass through San Antonio for a short time, but many often find their way back. A website dedicated to San Antonio’s military history, www.militarycityusa.com, reports that San Antonio has “become a military retirement village” and that military retirees’ economic impact to our city exceeds $2 billion.
We have much for which to thank our military folks – for their service in defending our nation, but also for what they do to make our community a fine place to live and work.
Happy Armed Forces Day to all who serve and have served – we salute you!
