Thread: Mexican army dishes out help in US while remembering the WAR

www.mysanantonio.comwww.mysanantonio.com[/url]

Mexican army dishes out help
Web Posted: 09/14/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Ron Wilson
Express-News Staff Writer

Call it more than 100 metric tons, 250,000 pounds for 12 truckloads. Any way you put it, it's enough food to last the San Antonio Food Bank a week.

And that's how much the Mexican army donated Tuesday for Katrina evacuees staying in San Antonio.

It took the troops a sultry morning and most of a hot afternoon to unload the bags and boxes of beans, rice, shelf-stable milk, juice, flour, pasta, cereal, tuna and other goods.

"We hope these supplies help solve the needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina," commander Brig. Gen. Francisco Ortiz Valadez said.

Food Bank Executive Director Eric Cooper was nearly overwhelmed by the generosity, saying afterward it was one of the bank's biggest-ever one-day donations.

This was the second large donation from Mexico, food bank workers said, the other being 10 truckloads of milk and other supplies delivered over the weekend.

Tuesday's donation took place on a Mexican holiday as the troops flew their flag at half-staff in honor of the Boy Heroes of the Battle of Chapultepec.

"Your country and your army have made a difference in our community, not only with food but with brotherhood across borders," Cooper told the Mexican commander.

Mark Mullenix, incident commander and the top field officer for the federal evacuee effort here, also thanked Ortiz.

"We're challenged to provide food for our volunteer workers and evacuees," Mullenix said. "We're challenged with 12,000 evacuees. And without having another source (of help), this is a godsend."

Cooper also praised San Antonians for their generosity.

"As a community, we're a little poorer than some other cities," he said. "So we understand better what hunger and need is all about."

So much food came in over the four-day holiday weekend that the Food Bank now is asking for cash contributions and seeking volunteers, Cooper said. Donors or volunteers can reach the Food Bank by calling 337-3663.

"We will be helping the evacuees as long as they're here," he said. "But at the same time, we need to continue to help the hungry in our service area. Right now we could use cash donations to do that."

Even as food donations keep coming, the number of evacuees in shelters continues to dwindle.

On Tuesday morning, 4,413 remained in the four city shelters, with an unknown number staying in churches or with relatives or friends.

The city's Public Works Department continues to improve infrastructure at the shelters.

Diesel engine-powered generators that were eating up $30,000 a day in fuel have been replaced by electric power lines installed by City Public Service Energy, said Tom Wendorf, department director.

The air conditioning in Building 1536 has largely been re-engineered for better temperature control.

Despite a rainy weekend and hot, humid working conditions, crews are finishing up toilet installations, and showers are coming online.

Coin laundries will be installed, Wendorf said, with one at the Levi Strauss building scheduled for completion today, and two others to be up and running by Friday.

Wendorf said the city is installing more emergency exit doors on the buildings.

The Battle of Chapultepec took place in September 1847 during the Mexican-American War, at Chapultepec Castle on Chapultepec Hill, on the outskirts of Mexico City.

The United States Army began an artillery barrage against Chapultepec at dawn on September 12. It was halted at dark and resumed at first light on September 13. At 08:00 the bombardment was halted and Winfield Scott ordered to charge. George Pickett (later famous for "Pickett's Charge" and the Battle of Five Forks during the American Civil War) was the first American to top the wall of the fort. There was great loss of life on both sides in the battle, and eventually Mexican General Nicolás Bravo was forced to withdraw and the U.S. forces succeeding in taking the hill. By September 15 the invaders were in control of Mexico City.

During the battle, six Mexican military cadets refused to fall back when General Bravo finally ordered retreat, and fought to the death against superior U.S. forces. One by one they fell, fighting for their country; when one was left (Juan Escutia), and the US forces about to kill him, he grabbed the Mexican flag, wrapped it around himself and jumped off the castle point. A monument stands in Chapultepec Park commemorating their courage. The cadets are eulogized in Mexican history as the Los Niños Héroes, the "Boy Heroes" or Heroic Cadets.

A number of men from the controversial Saint Patrick's Battalion (el Batallón de San Patricio or San Patricios), a group of former U.S. army solders who joined the Mexican side, were executed en masse during the Battle of Chapultepec. They had been previously captured at the Battle of Churubusco. General Scott specified that they were to be hanged with Chapultepec in view, and that the precise moment of their death was to occur when the U.S. flag replaced the Mexican tricolor atop the citadel.

Are we going to have a test on this

Pop quiz in 30 minutes

added to the homepage

Mexican army honors troops killed during war with America in Katrina area.
http://www.alipac.us/article717.html

HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS GARBAGE DO WE HAVE TO TAKE!!!

If I'd been there and still been on active duty I probably would have flipped out. I'm ready to now.

By September 15 the invaders were in control of Mexico City.

Yeah, well now the invaders are sitting next to your kid at school.

To think that they can do this on American soil and NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING???

AAAARRRRRRGHHHHHH