Whywecelebrate…

September 13 (Batalla de Chapuletepec)An American armyattacksthe “Castillo de Chapultepec”, whichwas a militaryschool. Allthesoldiers, betweentheages of 14 and 18, foughtthere. Six in particular are veryimportant in history; Francisco Márquez, Juan de la Barrera, Vicente Suárez, Fernando Montes de Oca, Agustin Melgar, and Juan Escutia (who is said to have jumped off the building wrapped in the flag).

September 16 (Independencia de Mexico)Manypeople in Mexico (known as Nueva España back then) didn’tfeelidentifiedwiththe country. At midnightonSeptember 15, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rangthechurchbell, declaringanindependence. MexicoacheivedindependenceonSeptember 27, 1821; eleven yearslater.

November 20 (Revolucion Mexicana)A revolutionagainst Porfirio Diaz, whohadbeen in powerfor 30 years, isstarted. Some of therevolutionaryleaderswere: Francisco I. Madero, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Venustiano Carranza, and ÁlvaroObregón.