September 16, 2015 marked the 205th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. Like all such occasions worldwide, it was celebrated with patriotic parades. Here in the city of Oaxaca, civic and military contingents marched from the corner of 20 de noviembre and Trujano, passed the Government Palace, east on Guerrero, then north on Pino Suarez, to wind up at Paseo Juárez (aka, Llano Park).
Oaxaca’s Palacio de Gobierno, with images of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez and José María Morelos y Pavón, two of the heroes of struggle for independence.
Before you could see a contingent, you could hear it; often drums and drummers heralded the arrival of both school and military groups.
Like most patriotic parades, military and police elements dominated the civic. In Oaxaca, we are talking federal, state, and municipal, including units from the thousands of members of the Gendarmaría Nacional, who have been in town for at least a month. I do have to say, besides the usual, some of the camouflage face paint had an “only in Mexico” flair.
Spectators lined the streets along the route, but mostly reserved their applause for the bomberos (firefighters)…
Cruz Roja (Red Cross) workers, especially the canine unit and young volunteers…
and, last but not least, the riders from the Asociación de Charros de Oaxaca, who brought up the rear. I guess the thinking was to keep the streets free of horse manure until the end!
That’s all, folks!
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