Thread: Cinco de Mayo versus the Halls of Montezuma

All the Azatlan wannabes recently celebrated Cinco de Mayo - a day commerating a temporary defeat of the French by the Mexican army in 1862 - for their Mexican heritage and pride.

Maybe its time Americans started celebrating some of their own heritage and pride.

How about celebrating the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848 when Mexico surrendered?

Nah, too cold in most of the USA for a BBQ.

Texans remember the Battle of the Alamo. (February 23 – March 6, 1836) but its still not good patriotic partying weather across much of the USA.

How about celebrating the battle and subsequent capture of Mexico City, September 8-15, 1847? While being outnumbered by over 2:1, the victorius US forces had a 4:1 edge in casuality/wounded after the seven day battle.

The Marine Corp anthem commemerates "the halls of Montezuema" which actually was the Battle of Chapultepec Castle, September 12-14, 1847.

Thus September 14 would make a grand day to have parties and celebrations recounting the routing of the Mexican Army, the purchase of the American southwest, and the hanging of traitorous members of the Saint Patrick's Battalion who, like many illegal alien supporters of today, chose to side with Mexico over the United States.

What should we call the celebration?

Excellent Idea!

What should we call the celebration?

Cinco de Quatro! In honor of our great president/messiah BHO! :P :P :P

No, can't be in Spanish. English only!

How about Zachary Taylor Day?

General Taylor, who latter became the 12th president (although not considered to be a very good president), was one of the two Commanding Generals leading the war effort. General Winfield Scott was the other. Scott is the one who took Chapultepec Castle ("Halls of Montezuma") and Mexico City.

Others for consideration?

Stonewall Jackson
Robert E. Lee
Franklin Pierce (latter became the 14th President - although not considered to be a very good one.)
Stephen Watts Kearny (USPS made a stamp commemorating his command taking NM without firing a shot)
President James Polk (11th President and considered to be far above average. President Polk was president during the Mexican-American War and authorized the Treaty of Hidalgo where we bought the American SW)

Since Polk was President when we "stole" Azatlan, and Cinco de Mayo is all about military victories, maybe Polk's Victory in Mexico Day Celebration?

Doesn't have a good ring though.

Or, since there is a VE and VJ Day, why not VM Day?

Given the in-your-face Cinco de Mayo celebrations, maybe we should just have a 14th of September celebration where we revel in our Victory in Mexico and the taking of the American SW.

September 14th - VM Day

The Battle of Chapultepec Castle was not one of the United States's "finest hours". I believe it concluded with cadets from a Mexico City military academy standing alone to defend it against U.S. forces after Mexican regular troops had been depleted. I think most of those cadets, some of them as young as 14, were killed in the battle. For this reason Capultepec Castle is a very emotional subject for Mexicans. They were touched when President Harry Truman, the first U.S. President to ever visit Mexico, asked to visit Chapultepec Castle and place a wreath in memory of the cadets who fell and died there defending their country.