Writing New Jersey Life

People and places of New Jersey…with some travels.

Tag: Emilio Carranza

“Remembrance Meets Welcome: Captain Carranza Ceremony and Mount Holly”

The American Legion Mount Holly Post 11’s beautiful 89th ceremony honoring Captain Emilio Carranza took place last Saturday in Wharton State Forest.  Members of  Captain Carranza’s family, dignitaries from the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, members of the Medford American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Civil Air Color Guard, local Scout troops, and rescue squad members joined in the remembrance of the Mexican aviator-hero.  Elegant sashes adorned the floral wreaths with respects from the Carranza family, the ballet, other American Legion Posts, Sons of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Civil Air Patrol, and families, businesses, communities, and friends from Burlington County, the state, and beyond. Thanks to the dedication of Post 11 and long-term participants, it was wonderful to see more attendees this year.

Carranza Park with the monument to the captain and floral adornments has changed significantly since the American Legionnaires of Mount Holly Post 11 answered the call for aid in 1928. “In this desolate spot,” reads the Legion’s press release, ”was born the Post’s program of international amity.” (The New York Times, 2002)  The occasion for the search was somber, but the Pinelands today has a distinct beauty that one appreciates more with each visit. Next year will be the 90th anniversary of Captain Carranza’s death and donations that directly support the ceremony and the preservation of the captain’s monument are most welcome.  If you wish to support this commemoration, kindly send a check to: Mount Holly Post 11, PO Box 711, Mount Holly NJ 08060.

Members of the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Nueva York

Attendees were cordially invited to see the Ballet Folklorico of New York perform afterwards at a luncheon at where fundraising films, books, and materials commemorating the captain were available. (For commemorative items and more information about Captain Emilio Carranza, visit: www.post11.org.)  The dancers delighted everyone by bringing audience members up to join them.  The New York-based group announced that they will be performing dances from the annual Guelaguetza in Oaxaca on Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, all day on July 30th to support the park. For more information about this event, visit the Facebook page of the Ballet Forklorico Mexicano de Nueva York facebook.com/BFMNY/.

La Legión Americana La 89 ceremonia hermosa del poste 11 del soporte Holly que honra al capitán Emilio Carranza ocurrió el sábado pasado en el bosque del estado de Wharton. Miembros de la familia del capitán Carranza, dignatarios de la Embajada de México en Washington, DC, el Ballet Folklórico de México, miembros de la Legión Americana Medford y Veteranos de Guerras Extranjeras, tropas Scouts locales y miembros del escuadrón de rescate se unieron al recuerdo del aviador mexicano -héroe. El próximo año será el 90 aniversario de la muerte del capitán Carranza y las donaciones que apoyan directamente la ceremonia y la preservación del monumento del capitán son bienvenidas. Si desea apoyar esta conmemoración, envíe un cheque a: Mount Holly Post 11, PO Box 711, Mount Holly NJ 08060.

Los asistentes fueron cordialmente invitados a ver el Ballet Folklorico de Nueva York realizar después en un almuerzo en donde las películas de recaudación de fondos, libros y materiales que conmemoraban al capitán estaban disponibles. (Para artículos conmemorativos y más información sobre el capitán Emilio Carranza en espanol, visite: www.post11.org.) Los bailarines deleitaron a todos reuniendo a los miembros de la audiencia para unirse a ellos. El grupo con sede en Nueva York anunció que presentará danzas de la Guelaguetza anual en Oaxaca en Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, todo el día el 30 de julio para apoyar el parque. Para más información sobre este evento, visite la página de Facebook del Ballet Forklorico Mexicano de Nueva York facebook.com/BFMNY/.  (Google translator.)

Mount Holly
As a means of a thank you, had the pleasure of returning to picturesque Mount Holly for a brief visit where visitors receive friendly hellos while walking around the town named for its holly trees.  Town proud, new sidewalks, murals, and development are happening everywhere, and house proud, many people were out tending to their charming historic homes on the sunny afternoon in the seat of Burlington County, which our family first knew as the hometown of Franco Harris when we cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mount Holly, site of the Battle of Iron Works Hill, two days before the Battle of Trenton, has points of interest ranging from historic Revolutionary War sites to the state-of-the-art campus of Rowan College at Burlington County. RCBC includes a culinary arts program, a student-run restaurant, and an art gallery right in the center of town. On this late Saturday afternoon, shoppers from both New Jersey and Philadelphia, the latter just a 40 minute drive, were finishing up in the Mill Race Village shops in the historic downtown district, which includes architectural styles from the early 1700’s through the late 1800’s. Shoppers were stepping out to go to the popular pizzeria on High Street and all the restaurants throughout the downtown.
If you will be attending the nearby Burlington County Farm Fair, July 18th-22nd, in Columbus, New Jersey, consider stopping by for a warm Mount Holly “hello”.
   

Mount Holly, New Jersey

Posted on “Writing New Jersey Life” July 13, 2017 All Rights Reserved © 2017 Kathleen Helen Levey

 

 

“Fidelity: Captain Emilio Carranza”

Captain Carranza Monument

As Amelia Earhart’s disputed fate resurfaces in the news, another hero of the Golden Age of Aviation, Captain Emilio Carranza, is forever entwined with New Jersey history. Captain Emilio Carranza, 1905-1928, despite having died as a young man, has an extraordinary public and personal narrative. The captain, nephew of the great Mexican aviator Alberto Salinas Carranza, was known as “The Lone Eagle of Mexico” in his native country, and in the United States as the “Lindbergh of Mexico”. By 22, the ace who grew up in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, was an experienced soldier and a survivor of a serious crash which required painful facial reconstruction. Flying in the advent of newsreels, he set the record for the third longest non-stop solo flight, San Diego to Mexico City, which was also the longest flight by a Mexican pilot at the time.  He became internationally famous.

Young and personable, his countrymen admired him. On his next flight, Captain Carranza launched “The Mexican Excelsior,” a Ryan Brougham in the style of fellow aviator Charles Lindbergh’s “The Spirit of St. Louis”. Newly married, Captain Carranza did not decline duty and flew on a good will mission to the US in June of 1928.  Among his numerous honors were having lunch with the president and receiving the key to New York City. In July at West Point, he had the rare privilege for one of his rank, a review of the troops, which conveyed a mutual respect.

While still in upstate New York, summer storms repeatedly delayed his attempted returns to Mexico. Yet again, when he planned to depart, another violent thunderstorm erupted. Historical rumor has it that during this particular storm, the grand-nephew of former President Carranza, received a telegram from a rival, a cabinet member of the current government, who ordered his immediate return. Another rumor notes that he was trying to get ahead of the weather. The sweet, sad truth is that despite the accolades, he missed his bride and wished to return to her. Several people, including fellow aviator Charles Lindbergh, who would later marry Englewood’s Anne Morrow, an accomplished pilot and navigator, warned him not to go. Despite Captain Carranza’s skill, while flying over the Pine Barrens to land on the New Jersey coast, his single engine plane could not pass through the worsening storm. He tried to land, ultimately crashing to his death at age 23 in Wharton State Forest, part of the town of Tabernacle…

…After the crash, the American Legionnaires of Mount Holly Post 11, along with local volunteers, retrieved his body by hacking through the woods and underbrush of the Pinelands, making a clearing around the plane where this [the monument] stands, marking the area to protect the crash site. They took his body, first to Chatsworth, then to their post, to ensure his dignity and a return with honor to Mexico. As Post 11 notes, their own US flag that draped Captain Carranza’s coffin now hangs in Mexico’s School of Aviation. A national hero, Mexico still commemorates the captain.

Captain Carranza photo and Post 11 Memorial Wreath

Reflecting the loyalty of Captain Carranza, the American Legion members made a promise to keep alive the young hero’s mission of good will and peace, carried on through the generations in an annual ceremony in Tabernacle. Each year on the Saturday nearest July 12th, the beautiful ceremony in Captain Carranza’s honor takes place with some of his relatives, the Legionnaires, Mexican officials, the Girl and Boy Scouts, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Nueva York, the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard, and Medford’s American Legion Post 526 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7677. On special anniversaries, the U.S. Air Force flies over in the missing man formation. The ceremony includes the Post members reenacting the search for the captain and his return accompanied with the hymn “Going Home” by Antonin Dvorak. This year marks the 89th ceremony.

The public is welcome at the ceremony this Saturday, July 9th, at 1:00 p.m. as they are daily at Carranza Park, the monument site. Heading down Carranza Way into the Wharton State Forest, though it is scenic country with wavering GPS upon entering 115,000 acres of woodlands, it is helpful to have a print out of directions.  American Legion of Mount Holly 11 kindly provides the best ones: www.post11.org/carranza/carranza8e.html

The Carranza Monument, poignantly, is the heartfelt gift of Mexican schoolchildren, saddened by the loss of their hero in what seemed like the most lonesome place.  They pooled coin donations nationwide…the monument’s engraving is of a downward eagle in the Aztec style, signifying the great loss of the young hero, addressed as the “Messenger of Peace” in English and Spanish.  His ability and courage inspired many young Mexicans and others around the world to become aviators.

Post 11 periodically shows the documentary “Good Will: The Flight of Emilio Carranza” by Robert Emmons and offers commemorative items like the video “Flying with Emilio”. For comprehensive information on Captain Carranza, including an account by his cousin, visit the Mount Holly Post 11 website, www.post11.org, in English and Spanish.  The website also contains information on other events like the Post’s observances for 9/11, Veterans’ Day, and Memorial Day.

American Legion Mount Holly Post 11 conducts the annual ceremony and helps oversee the preservation of Captain Carranza’s Memorial. Donations for the ceremony, the memorial preservation, or both, go directly to these as do the purchase of commemorative items, and would be greatly appreciated.  Checks may be sent to: Mount Holly Post 11, PO Box 711, Mount Holly NJ 08060.

American Legionnaires of Mt. Holly and Medford

Additional information: Adapted passage from ‘The Moral Quandary of Heels’ All Rights Reserved © 2013 Kathleen Helen Levey and Instagram @kathleenhelen15

Published on “Writing New Jersey Life” July 6, 2017 All Rights Reserved © 2017 Kathleen Helen Levey

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén