Cinco de Mayo Celebration 2002 filled Veterans Park with music and dancing, as well as droves of children who gleefully took sticks to pinatas and scrambled for the candy their hard whacks unleashed. Photos by Carol Wilson

Cinco De Mayo celebrated in Santa Paula

May 10, 2002
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesUndoubtedly, the brave band of Mexicans who fought off the well-armed professional French army at La Puebla never gave a thought to their place in history, but on Sunday, Cinco de Mayo, their courage in the face of what seemed to be certain defeat was celebrated.At Santa Paula’s Veterans Memorial Park, over 500 people gathered to celebrate the holiday of the May 5, 1862 battle, which came just 15 years after Mexico had lost a third of its territory in the United States.On that day, General Ignacio Zaragoza led the vastly outnumbered Mexican militia against the French, and to the astonishment of the world, won the battle.“France was supposed to have the best trained army in the world, but the Mexicans won,” said Latino Town Hall President Bob Borrego. “I think that’s the reason Mexicans take such great pride in this day.”Cinco de Mayo Celebration 2002 filled Veterans Park with music and dancing, as well as droves of children who gleefully took sticks to pinatas and scrambled for the candy their hard whacks unleashed.The event kicked off with the noted Danza Azteca Tonantzin and the acclaimed Inlakech Folklorico Dance Group of Oxnard, wearing the bright traditional costumes that mark every celebration they perform for.
“This is wonderful,” said Cissy Myers of Ventura. “The celebration in Oxnard was so crowded we decided to come to Santa Paula,” which Myers and her family first visited during the Centennial Celebration.“I especially like the fact that is an alcohol free event,” suitable for the entire family, Melissa Herrera of Santa Paula said. “There’s too much drinking associated with Cinco de Mayo. . .everyone wants to have fun, but you don’t have to have beer to have a good time with the family.”In between the dancers and singers, Estereo Corazon 96.7 FM provided festive music, especially appreciated by the children inspired by the dancers.Cinco de Mayo Celebration 2002 was community sponsored by Latino Town Hall, Santa Paula Police Officers Association, Santa Paula Rotary Club, Santa Paula Centennial Celebration Committee, Restaurante Tlaquepaque, and Estereo Corazon 96.7 FM.



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