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35th Annual Fiesta Soccer Tournament

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:01:28 -0500

35th Annual Fiesta Soccer TournamentFiesta is here and this weekend it is the 35th annual Fiesta soccer tournament. Teamsfrom all over the country heads to San Antonio to compete and enjoy the best party ofthe year, FIESTA! This year the tournament is held at the Star Complex in San Antonioand people of all ages are coming together for soccer fun in the San Antonio sun. Thereare booths with refreshments, foods and fun for the kids. Come on out – finals are playedSunday the 21st of April all day.Star Complex5103 David Edwards DrSan Antonnio, TX 78233 << Brooks City Base

Brooks City Base

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:13:04 -0600

Brooks City Base Brooks City Base, formerly Brooks Air Force Base, and before that variously Gosport Field and Kelly Field #5, is located slightly to the south-east of downtown San Antonio. At the dawn of American military aviation, Brooks and Kelly were comfortably far out enough in the country that aviators of fixed wing and lighter-than-air flying machines could train without endangering any but themselves. Brooks Field was officially established in 1918 as a training base for the Air Service of the US Army Signal Corps. For some years, Brooks Field was the Army Air Corps primary flight training school, until that mission relocated to Randolph AFB. After that, Brooks became the new home for the Aerial Observation Center.Following World War II, Brooks was the home for several reserve and tactical units, officially becoming an Air Force Base with the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service. In the early 1950s, Brooks became home to the Aerospace Medical Center – to include the School for Aerospace Medicine (SAM), which would deal in research with applicability to flight and space exploration. President John F. Kennedy’s last official act as president was to dedicate the SAM building on November 21, 1963. He was assassinated the following day in Dallas.The mission of Brooks AFB continued to be focused on science and medical research with regard to aviation and space flight, including aerospace medical learning, aircrew health assessment, and such activities as the Air Force’s drug testing lab, and an occupational and environmental health lab.In the mid 1990s, when Brooks was listed as excess for current military needs and slated for closure by the Base Realignment and Realignment Commission, a plan was worked out by city, state, local and military planners to privatize Brooks, essentially to replace military activities with a mix of civic and privately owned scientific, or educational establishments.Brooks is also home to the Museum of Aerospace Medicine, or “Hanger 9” – a World War I-era frame aircraft hanger, the single remaining hanger of 16, built in Brooks’ earliest days, when flight training was accomplished in Curtiss JN-4 “Jennies”. Hanger 9 is listed as a national historic monument.Currently, Brooks City Base is home to the Air Force’s 311Air Base Group. The military mission is expected to close in 2011.Neighborhoods and suburbs adjacent to Brooks City Base include Highland Hills, Stinson Park and Kingsborough Park. Brooks City Base is also a short distance from San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, and Mission San Juan Capistrano. << Camp Bullis 35th Annual Fiesta Soccer Tournament >>

Camp Bullis

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:26:48 -0600

Camp Bullis Established in 1917, Camp Bullis was originally used as one of many training sites for the American Expeditionary Force soon to be sent to Europe. Used as a small arms and rifle range for Fort Sam Houston, no units were stationed at the Camp. After World War I, the Camp served as a training site for various civilian and military organizations, including the Civilian Military Training Corps, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and the Officer Reserve Corps. During World War II, the 2nd, 95th, and 88th Infantry Divisions used Camp Bullis. After the war, 500,000 soldiers were processed out through the separation center at the Camp. In 1977, the Air Force established the Air Force Security Police (Air Force Security Forces) Training Site at Camp Bullis. The Air Force was subsequently the single largest user of the camp until 1987.Health-care specialists training in the US Army, otherwise known as medics, travel from Fort Sam Houston to Camp Bullis to complete a two week field training exercise at the end of their advanced individual training. During the two weeks, they learn much about a medic's role in infantry affairs. The first day they are issued M16A2s, and are introduced to chemical warfare. During the next eight days they spend a day and a half on various infantry tactics and the medic's role in such. During the last five days they put into practice everything they have learned. The most sleep the medics get through all their training is in the field- about eight hours of night, in addition to daily showers and hot chow in the morning and evenings, accompanied with MREs for lunch. << The Alamo in downtown San Antonio Brooks City Base >>

The Alamo in downtown San Antonio

txrealty@gmail.com (Helotes Texas) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:27:49 -0500

The Alamo in downtown San Antonio Deep within the heart of downtown San Antonio lays an infamous part of Texas state history. More than 2.5 million individuals a year visit “The Alamo” on a yearly basis. This 4.2 acre historic piece of land is essentially the resting place of the 300 year old mission where a small fraction of native Texans found themselves holed up for a full 13 days against the Mexican army, headed by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in 1836. Many remember the stories of James Bowie, William B. Travis, and David Crockett who fought gallantly despite what would be obviously grim outcomes. Yes, although the defenders of the Alamo lost the battle and inevitably their lives, The Alamo has become something of a symbol of courage against impossible odds and a staple for the undeniable Texas spirit of valor. Many of The Alamo’s visitors feel a deep rooted connection with this historic landmark and it is no wonder that many individuals do indeed, “Remember the Alamo.” The greatest part of this location, aside from being able to see and touch a pivotal moment in Texas history is the fact that The Alamo is free to visit. Since 1905 The Alamo has been headed by the daughters of the Republic of Texas and only receives monetary funds from governmental agencies, patron donations, and money made from the gift shop. The Alamo is also open all year around with the exception of Christmas Even and Christmas Day and rests in the Alamo Plaza. << Morgan’s Wonderland Camp Bullis >>

Morgan’s Wonderland

txrealty@gmail.com (Helotes Texas) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:25:00 -0500

Morgan’s Wonderland During a routine vacation with his special needs daughter, Morgan, philanthropist Gordon Hartman realized that many of the playgrounds he visited were not adequate enough for a child as unique and special as Morgan. What soon manifested was Morgan’s Wonderland, located in Northeast San Antonio near the IH 35-Loop 410 interchange. Morgan’s Wonderland is essentially 25 acres of fun for children of all varying degrees of abilities, from able bodied children to disabled children alike. In short, Morgan’s Wonderland is a family fun park with an emphasis on being available for everyone. The park features more than 25 different areas and attractions including unique and creative playgrounds, beautiful and well kept gardens, exciting rides, a 575 seat-amphitheaters, as well as an 18,000 square foot special events center. One of the highlights of the park is the intricate carousel and the 8-acre lake suitable for catch-and-release fishing. Park visitors will also enjoy train rides around the lake, a fun music garden, exciting water cannons, and even a sensory village. Many of these locations within the park are also themed, such as being Butterfly themed or Pirate themed. Children will especially enjoy this as each section looks and feels like a whole new environment. There are windmills, swings, pretend grocery stores, and essentially a host of playground equipment that allow children to explore and play. Perhaps the best part of the park is the fact that is wheelchair accessible, from the swings to the slides. There is no doubt that residents of San Antonio would be proud to have such an offering their city. The Alamo in downtown San Antonio >> << Ripley’s Believe It or Not at San Antonio

Ripley’s Believe It or Not at San Antonio

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:36:19 -0500

Ripley’s Believe It or Not at San Antonio Where in the world can one go toe to toe with celebrities and see strange and unusual items from all across the globe? The answer of course lies in the state of the art, interactive Ripley’s Believe It or Not at San Antonio, Texas. Just across from The Alamo and against the San Antonio River Walk, Ripley’s Believe It or Not is not only accessible but offers visitors a memorable experience. Many individuals recognize the name from the famous travel tome full of oddities and wonders, and the physical location upholds the book’s standards to the tee. Within the Ripley’s family the area features many different unique tourist attractions such as the Guinness World Records Museum or Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works Museum. Each of these offers their own unique experience, and although each may bear their own ticket price, one would certainly want to see what the whole of Ripley’s has to offer. The Guinness World Records Museum, for instance, is what resembles the famous book the most with 10,000 square feet of exhibits, videos, games, and artifacts all devoted to world records. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is a state of the art, million dollar haunted house like no other. Inclusive of this attraction visitors will be exposed with live actors, elaborate stages, animatronics, and special effects which all work together to bring the haunted story to life. Visitors that don’t have a taste for the fear-inducing can instead take pictures with wax celebrities in Louis Tussaud’s or ride through ancient tombs in Tomb Rider. Morgan’s Wonderland >> << SeaWorld San Antonio

SeaWorld San Antonio

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:17:48 -0500

SeaWorld San Antonio When an individual thinks of San Antonio, Texas this is one of the places he or she immediately envisions. SeaWorld San Antonio is a vast theme park that is far more than a simple place to see stunning orcas or playful, chattering dolphins. SeaWorld San Antonio is, instead, a world in which land dwellers can take part in the wonders of the sea; all at an affordable price and through a mountain of fun and exciting interaction. In many ways SeaWorld San Antonio is the prized jewel of the city and many travel from all over the world just to visit this aquatic amusement park and take part in its many offerings. Those that visit SeaWorld San Antonio can see the well known Shamu show, or enjoy attractions that are catered just for young children. There are also many different rides one can go on, such as the Great White, or the electrifying Steel Eel. Many visitors simply go just to see the animals that SeaWorld San Antonio offers and those that do will not park area. be disappointed. Many interactions are available with the price of admission, and although some cost additional fees, such as interacting with the Beluga Whales, the prices are well worth it for this once in a lifetime opportunity. A subsection of the park Aquatica offers much more to see and do. There are additional rides, more animal interactions, such as with the Sting Rays, as well as even more heart pounding rides and slides in the expansive water. Ripley’s Believe It or Not at San Antonio >> << Today's Lackland Air Force Base

Today's Lackland Air Force Base

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:20:43 -0500

Today's Lackland Aif Force Base Lackland Air Force Base, popularly known as the “Gateway to the Air Force,” is located at the edge of San Antonio’s south-west suburbs, and is unique for several reasons. It is a training base, and has been ever since construction began on a permanent facility to train aviation cadets in 1941. If you have served in the US Air Force at any time since the Korean War, the odds are very high that you have come to Lackland, since it was designated the main training base for officer and enlisted Army Air Force recruits in 1946, and continued in that capacity for the Air Force – although wartime demands during Korea and Vietnam sent overflow training missions temporarily to other bases in Texas, California and New York. Another singular oddity of Lackland is that for many years, it was an Air Force base without a flight line. Beginning as just another annex of Kelly – and housed in tents and flimsy temporary barracks, Lackland drew in more training missions, more and more buildings and schools, eventually becoming the sole provider of enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT) for regular active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, even as Air Force basic and commissioned officer training moved to Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Ironically, in 2001, Lackland’s parent base of Kelly AFB shrank to a mere field annex of Lackland, following the closing of the San Antonio Air Logistics Center. With that closing, Lackland finally acquired an operational flight-line and a flying mission. Being relatively new, in contrast to established military bases around San Antonio – Randolph, Brooks, Kelly and Fort Sam Houston – Lackland itself boasts little in the way of historic buildings. Historical relics are confined to a half-century of aviation history, on static display around the perimeter of the parade grounds. Aircraft on display there include a B-52 Stratofortress, F-4 Phantom II, an SR-71 Blackbird, C-121 Constellation, B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-25 Mitchell. Every Friday morning, Lackland AFB hosts graduation exercises and parades at that parade ground, for graduates of Air Force Basic Military Training. Well into the 1990s, much of Lackland was housed in WWII/Korea era one or two-storey temporary buildings. Beginning in the late 1960s, when these structures were well past their “best if used by date,” substantial renovations and upgrades began with the construction of Wilford Hall. A modern, permanent 9-story hospital building and a 500-bed wing added several years later replaced a sprawl of 94 flimsy temporary buildings. A series of huge, and rather futuristic-appearing structures – with a ground-level core housing classrooms, mess halls and offices, and multiple upper-level barracks wings, built out on stilts above concrete pads which afforded shelter from the weather consolidated and replaced facilities which had formerly been scattered just as much as the hospital operations. Today, Lackland hosts more than just Basic Military Training. Working dogs and handlers for the DOD and various federal agencies are trained at Lackland, as well as Air Force Security Police personnel, pararescue specialists, explosive ordinance disposal experts and tactical air control, as well as enlisted aircrew specialists are all trained at Lackland. The Air Force Audit agency, Air Force News, and Tops in Blue – the annual traveling Air Force talent contest are all headquartered there as well as the Defense Language Institute’s English Language Center, and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, which offers technical training for enlisted students from Air Forces throughout North and South America and the Caribbean. Another portion of Lackland, formerly a part of Kelly, is the Security Hill complex, which houses the Air Forces’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, among others. Nearby attractions include San Antonio’s Sea World, and Nelson Wolff Stadium, home of San Antonio’s minor-league baseball team, the San Antonio Missions – who often host ‘military nights.’ Suburbs and developments close to Lackland include Lackland Terrace, Rainbow Hills, Adams Hill, Heritage and Oak Creek. SeaWorld San Antonio >> << Texas Hill Country

Texas Hill Country

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:06:17 -0500

Texas Hill Country Just north of San Antonio lies a majestic, expansive countryside that is a natural world all onto its own. Residents of San Antonio know it as a wild and untamed patch of land that extends as far as the eye can see, while outsiders simply know it as the “Texas Hill Country.” There is much to see and do in this area, from strolling down the quaint and picturesque Main Street in search of a one of a kind item to hiking or biking through scenic landscapes full of wonder. In fact, there are several rugged trails scattered throughout the Texas Hill Country with different sections of terrain that makes these trails passable by foot or by horse, or one can simply venture off and explore the hidden countryside itself. Common hiking trail favorites include Pedernales Falls State Park, Enchanted Rock State Natural Rock, Lost Maples State Natural Area as well as many other offerings. Some of these areas even allow for rock climbing, which one has the opportunity to do after besting one of these trails. Just being on top one of these granite giants can take a rock climber to a whole other world. Not to mention the elation one has after reaching the top of one of these monoliths. The area has no shortage of wildlife one can spot and the beautiful patches of wildflowers are endless. The area also offers tubing, which is one of San Antonio’s favorite summer sports. The water is crystalline and usually warm to the touch. There are also often shuttles available around the river areas. Today's Lackland Air Force Base >> << Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston

peter@todayssanantonio.com (Peter DiBenedetto) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:26:17 -0500

Fort Sam Houston Fort Sam Houston is considered to be the home of Army medicine, since all Army medical training was consolidated there at the end of World War Two. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 2005 recommended that all military medical training be consolidated at Fort Sam Houston – popularly known as “Fort Sam.” Both Navy and Air Force medical training programs are scheduled to move from their present locations in the near future. But Fort Sam was not always the home of military medicine – for at least fiftyyears, it was the main supply depot and headquarters for the US Army on the southwestern frontier . . . and in 1910 it was the birthplace of military aviation, when then-Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois took off from the parade ground in a 1909 Wright Flyer, dubbed “Army Airplane #1” for a series of demonstration flights. Fort Sam Houston started as a single structure, now known as the Quadrangle, an open courtyard with an ornamental clock tower at one end. It was originally meant as a supply depot – and to replace the various existing warehouse structures around the Alamo, which had been used for that purpose by various armies ever since the Alamo was abandoned as a mission and repurposed as a military garrison. By the mid 1870s, military needs had rather outpaced those capabilities offered by crumbling ranges of buildings around Alamo Plaza – and in any case, urban San Antonio had spread out far enough to encompass the old mission. The Army wanted to close the post to save money – and in response, the City of San Antonio donated 92 acres of land on the low hills north of town. This was a chance to build a new and more up-to-date structure; lots of clean new warehouse space to store Army supplies brought up from Galveston and other coastal ports, offices for the supply sergeants and officers to work in, a marshalling yards for wagons, water and pasturage for those teams of draft horses who hauled those supplies to their eventual destination – those Army forts on the far frontier. Curiously, the Quadrangle also served as a prison for a short time in 1886 – Geronimo, the last of the fighting Apache chiefs and some of his warriors were held in the quadrangle for 40 days, while the federal government decided what to do with him. It is purely legend that the small herd of deer housed in the Quadrangle today are descended from a herd provided to Geronimo provided as part of his rations. (The Quadrangle is today open to the public.) By the time of Geronimo’s short visit, Fort Sam was the second largest military post in the United States; practically the entire garrison was posted overseas to fight in the Spanish-American War. Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” rendezvoused and trained there before shipping to Cuba to charge up San Juan Hill. Fort Sam also supplied the men and material for General John “Black Jack” Pershing’s expedition into Mexico, chasing after Pancho Villa in 1916. Dwight Eisenhower met and married his wife, Mamie Dowd while stationed at Fort Sam as a young lieutenant. General Billy Mitchell was assigned to Fort Sam after being court-martialed and demoted. Practically every Army officer serving since 1880 and up until World War II passed through Fort Sam, at one time or another. Since many of the approximately 900 historical structures on post - quarters, barracks and administrative buildings - are still in use, only the Quadrangle is open to the general public. However, there are two museums on post, which between them give a very good idea of the scope of Fort Sam’s history and present missions: The Fort Sam Houston Museum, and the US Army Medical Department Museum. In addition to serving as headquarters for Army Medical Command, Headquarters for US Army South and US Army North, Fort Sam also hosts Brooke Army Medical Center. Fort Sam Houston now covers more than 3,000 acres, just north of downtown San Antonio, on the east side of town adjacent to IH 35 on one side, and significant roadways such as Rittiman, Harry Wurzbach, and North New Braunfels. It is adjacent to the San Antonio Country Club, Mahncke Park, and surrounded by suburbs such as Terrell Hills, Tobin Hill and Government Hill. Government Hill, which contains many distinctive old houses in poor condition, has been designated a historic area, and is considered by many to be in the early stages of gentrification. The Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is also adjacent to the post. Texas Hill Country >> << Today's Randolph Air Force Base