The Green Beret Sports Parachute Team will jump in the colors before the race. The Association’s official Mariachi Band, “Los Galleros de Mexico,” will play that evening, delighting the audience with some popular Revolution Folk Songs. Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the JFK Special Warfare Museum.
The MAA has chosen this holiday to raise awareness of how important this holiday is to the Mexican people. Every one knows about the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), but the Mexican Revolution of 1910 was also important.
Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mexico, under the leadership of General Díaz, the split between the poor and the rich was growing. Additionally, the political voice of the lower classes was declining. Francisco I. Madero, educated in Europe and at the University of California, led a series of strikes throughout the country, which galvanized opposition of Díaz. Pressured into holding an election in 1910, Diaz lost to Madero who surprisingly able to gather a significant number of the votes, becoming president of Mexico.
Díaz, although voicing his support of the one-term limit, he changed his mind and had Madero imprisoned. He felt that the people of Mexico just weren’t ready for democracy. When Madero was released from prison, he resumed his battle to overthrow Díaz. During this time, several other Mexican folk heroes began to emerge, including El General Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) in the north, and the peasant El General Emiliano Zapata in the south. The country began breaking into many different factions, each with guerilla bands roaming across the country destroying and burning down many large haciendas and ranchos.
Madero, escaping to Texas, called for an insurrection on Nov. 20, 1910. Elections were once again held and he assumed the presidency. Porfirio Díaz retreated into exile in France where he died. Unlike Díaz, Madero truly believed in democracy and wanted equality for everyone. He wanted to see social reforms, which ensured equal opportunities for all. He wanted to return the land to the people, but understood that this might take time. The members of his cabinet, however, wanted immediate change. He was overthrown and Victoriano Huerta was installed as president.
Mexico did not settle down until the new constitution passed in 1920. Neither Madero nor Díaz lived to see the change; however, the seed of democracy had been planted.
“Come and celebrate this great holiday for the people of Mexico,” said a spokesman.
For more information, call Coco Ramirez at 960-0994, e-mail cincodemayo10k@aol.com or visit www.cincodemayo10k.org.
