Heroes

Heroes of the past crying for the present.

El Ángel de la Independencia ("The Angel of Independence"), most commonly known by the shortened name El Ángel and officially known as Columna de la Independencia, is a victory column located on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtownMexico City.

El Ángel was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence, celebrated in 1910. In later years it was made into a mausoleum for the most important heroes of that war. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mexico City, and it has become a focal point for both celebration or protest. It bears a resemblance to the July Column in Paris and the Victory Column in Berlin.

Construction of El Ángel was ordered in 1902 by President Porfirio Díaz. Architect Antonio Rivas Mercado was in charge of the design of the monument, while the actual construction was supervised by Mexican engineers Gonzalo Garita and Manuel Gorozpe. All the sculptures were made byItalian artist Enrique Alciati. The monument was ready for the festivities to commemorate the first hundred years of Mexican Independence in 1910. The opening ceremony was attended by President Díaz and several foreign dignitaries. The main speaker at the event was Mexican poet Salvador Díaz Mirón.

music+image New York, Washington, Paris, Vienna, Eisenstadt, Venice, Firenze and Rome series try to continue in Sketches of Cities.  (At Least Once A Week) Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all.

Benito Juarez

Back View

Zocalo / Main Square at evening.

Natalicio de Benito Juarez / Natalicious of Benito Juarez

Benito Juárez García (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian who served five terms as president of Mexico[1]: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872. For resisting the French occupation, overthrowing the Empire, and restoring the Republic, as well as for his efforts to modernize the country, Juárez is often regarded as Mexico's greatest and most beloved leader. Juárez was recognized by the United States as a ruler in exile during the French-controlled Second Mexican Empire, and got their support in reclaiming Mexico under the Monroe Doctrine after the United States Civil War ended. Benito Juárez was the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background, and also the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as President of Mexico and to lead a country in the Western Hemisphere in over 300 years.

Juárez's famous quotation continues to be well-remembered in Mexico:
“Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz”, meaning "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." It is inscribed on the coat of arms of Oaxaca. [ Wiki ]
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Heroes

El Ángel de la Independencia ("The Angel of Independence") and officially known as Columna de la Independencia, is a victory column located on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtown, was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence, celebrated in 1910. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mexico City, it bears a resemblance to the Victory Column in Berlin. Next to the column there is a group of marble statues of some of the heroes of the War of Independence, from left to right:
Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Vicente Guerrero y Francisco Javier Mina. The women sculptures are History and Patria (Homeland).

Hero: “a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life”

Exists heroes in our days?


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Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.