In the 70s and 80s, Joe Serrano used to organize the Mexican Independence Day celebrations each September in San Ysidro.

 Back then, he said, the fiesta was big, with all the community participating in the event, that included live music and a parade.

 At the time, Serrano was leader of El Combo Latino, a music group that recorded several songs in honor of the homeland, such as Mi pueblito San Ysidro.

 Now that it is turning 100, this border community will celebrate with a parade on Saturday, August 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the historical San Ysidro Blvd., and Serrano will be part of the floats with his Rayo Norteño band.

 “I’m glad to see that once again San Ysidro is uniting again to celebrate like good neighbors,” said Serrano, who lived here for more than 20 years. “It was time that with pride we said, ‘We are from San Ysidro.’”

 The parade, which will include 45 floats and community groups, closes the series of events to celebrate the San Ysidro Centennial. Serrano will lead the parade singing the songs that he was composed for this border community. Some 5,000 are expected to attend the parade.

 In the parade will participate schools, local elected officials, community groups, non-profit organizations, the majority of them aboard low-riders and convertibles.

 “This parade will contribute to the cultural identity of the San Ysidro community,” said Matthew Paredes, director of state and federal programs for the SanYsidro School District, one of the parade organizers. “The parade will include many people who on a daily basis make San Ysidro a better place.”

 San Ysidro was founded in 1909 as a colony for farmers. Since then, the community has become an important bridge between U.S. and Mexican cultures, with millions of people passing by each year.

 In addition to commemorating the centennial, the free event celebrates unity among San Ysidro residents.

 “San Ysidro is a small but very united community,” said Manuel H. Paul, who grew up in San Ysidro and is now superintendent for the San Ysidro School District. “We all must celebrate. A parade is the least we can do to let San Diego and Tijuana know that San Ysidro is turning 100.”

 All six schools in the San Ysidro School District will participate in the parade because education plays an important role in this border community, Paul said.

 “We can’t separate the community of San Ysidro from the San Ysidro School District,” Paul said. “In fact, the school district was founded in 1897, making it older than the community of San Ysidro.”

 But more than anything, the parade will serve as an informal history lesson for the children of San Ysidro.

 “It is very important that all children here know about the history behind their community,” Paul said.

 The parade is a sign that San Ysidro has a good future ahead. The unity among this community proves that it has strong roots to hold on to.

 “We’re celebrating this community’s heritage,” said Amy Gunderson, member of the Centennial Committee and staff member at Casa Familiar, a local social services agency that is co-sponsoring the festival. “We’re celebrating San Ysidro.”