 | Photo By Jolene Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News
Members of the Sikh Temple in San Antonio march in the Hills and Dales Community 4th of July parade on the North West side of town. |
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July 4, 2014: SAN ANTONIO - Among waving American flags and patriotic clothes and banners, a man walked along a fourth of July parade route wearing an American flag turban and sporting a lengthy beard, in tradition with the Sikh religion.
G.P. Singh, a former UTSA Engineering professor, walked with about 200 people along a half-mile parade route at the Hills and Dales community on the Northwest side of town to celebrate the 4th of July.
About 50 other members of the Sikh religion were also in attendance to meet the community where the second Sikh temple in the city will be completed at the beginning of next year at 7914 Green Glen.
 | Photo By Cynthia Esparza/For the San Antonio Express-News
Members of the Sikh Dharamsal congregation hold up the flags they were carrying July 4, 2014 as they get to the end of the 17th annual HIlls & Dales Neighborhood Association Fourth of July parade. The parade which lasted about a quarter of a mile had over 100 people participate while walking the two long block of Shady Hollow Lane off of Babcock Road and ended at the neighborhood park with hot dogs, watermelon and lemonade. | | |  | Photo By Cynthia Esparza/For the San Antonio Express-News
Paramjit Singh greets Bronson Jasik, 4, July 4, 2014 as he walks alongside the 1946 Ford 9N tractor driven by Jasik's grandfather during the 17th annual HIlls & Dales Neighborhood Association Fourth of July parade. Singh is part of the Sikh Dharamsal congregation which participated in the parade for the first time. The parade lasted about a quarter of a mile had over 100 people participate while walking the two long block of Shady Hollow Lane off of Babcock Road. | | |  | Photo By Cynthia Esparza/For the San Antonio Express-News
Harvil Kaur (left) helps her son, Kubbi Singh, 3, try to stick an American flag to his tricycle as they prepare to participate, along with other members of the Sikh Dharamsal congregation, for the first time July 4, 2014 in the 17th annual HIlls & Dales Neighborhood Association Fourth of July parade. | | ...more |
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"This is one of the events that the community is doing and we're part of the community," Singh said, adding that members of the neighborhood association and throughout the area have been welcoming to their congregation of a different faith.
Gurpaul Singh, agreed that the residents in the area have welcomed the new place of worship openly.
"I think there are stereotypes, but...it's events like this that truly break down stereotypes," he said.
Boy Scout Troop 401 led the parade revelers, mounted on decorated tractors, bikes, and fire trucks, to the Charlie Bednarz Pavilion where marchers ate free watermelon and hot dogs while children enjoyed nearby playgrounds.
