Tejano Association for Historical Preservation

TEJANO NEWS

APRIL 2002

Cesar Chavez Hispanic Pride Day Parade April 6, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.

The Tejano Association for Historical Preservation will hold its third annual Cesar Chavez Hispanic Pride Day Parade on Saturday, April 6, 2002 beginning at the corner of Cesar Chavez Blvd and Capitol. Museo Guadalupe Aztlan will sponsor the "Blessing of the Four Winds." This is a ceremony that is typical of indigenous people of America. The parade will be in memory of the late Rudolfo Vara. Mr. "Rudy" Vara was a founding member of the Go Tejano Committee and members of various organizations such as the American Legion #472, a Life Member of the V.F.W., LULAC #60, Los Vaquero Rio Grande Trail Riders, Charros of Texas, Denver Harbor Civic Club and numerous others. He helped raised thousands of dollars for scholarships and served as an Ambassador of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. His widow, Mrs. Alicia Vara will be the parade marshal. The parade will end at Hidalgo Park and Domingo Marquez will emcee. There speeches, live entertainment and a "FUNDAY in the Park" for Children will be held. Tex. EquuSearch will be participating and taking fingerprints of children for identifying purposes. The Houston Holocaust Museum, The Black Heritage Society, Buffalo Soldiers, VFW, AMVETS, San Jacinto Disabled American Veterns, GI Forum, Tex. United Veterans, LZ Airborne Assoc., LULAC, Houston Public Library, HISD Migrant Program, Antique Bus and Discovery Bus from Metro, Special Olympics, Familias Hispanas del ARC, North Side's Finest Car Club, Hon. Sen. Gallegos, Hon. St. Rep. Dora Olivo, Hon. St. Rep. Moreno, Hon. St. Rep. Farrar, Hon. St. Rep. Noriega, Hon. City Controller, Sylvia Garcia, Hon. City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, Hon. City Councilman Gordon Quan, Hon. Judge Armando Rodriguez, Hon. Judge Vara, Al Flores, atty. at law, Carpenter's Union, LCLAA, IBEW, Jeff Davis Band, Cesar Chavez High ROTC, Austin High ROTC, Austin Safe Schools, Aldine Sr. High Air Force JROTC, and MacArthur High JROTC will be participating. There will be live entertainment by "Aviso," "Johnny and the Heartbreakers," Sonia Ortiz, Las Fenix, Fey Libertad and Ballet Ambassadors. Capt. Curran of HPD, Magnolia Substation and Constable Victor Trevino of Precinct 6 will be coordinating security. HFD station #20 will also be participating. The paintings by renowned Houston artist, Luis Fernando of Juan N. Seguin and Cesar Chavez will be exhibited. Two distinguished members of LULAC will also be honored.

Note from the President: Please join and support us. We need your help. Pay your dues. Volunteer. Make your presence known. Strength comes in numbers. The past does not have to be our future. We can achieve change together and write our own history. Thank you in advance for joining us.

¡SI SE PUEDE! Benny C. Martinez, President, T.A.H.P.

Eloy Perez and the Latinaires, Neto Perez and the Young Originals, and Ventura Alonzo y sus Rancheros were recently submitted by TAHP to the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame 212 N. Wright St. Alice, Texas 78332. Induction into the Hall of Fame will be held Aug. 2,3, and 4, 2002. Contact Javier "JV" Villanueva, CEO at 361-664-8000 for more information or visit their website at http://www.tejanoroots.net

The Vietnam Wall Experience will be coming to Houston National Cemetery, Sept. 13, 14, 15, 2002. The 240 foot, 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington, D.C. is now touring North American. Please make plans to attend this educational and moving event. This wall represents the cost of freedom and instills respect for those who died defending it. For information call 281-445-0050.

Reception Date Changed to Friday 4/26/2002 Honoring San Miguel. The reception honoring Prof. Guadalupe San Miguel has been changed to Apr. 26, 6:30 p.m. at Guadalupe Museo Aztlan, 3004 Bagby. He will be signing copies of his book, "Brown, Not White." Directions from downtown, traveling south on Main St., before Elgin, turn right on Anita to Bagby. The museum space is provided by LULAC #60 and is on the 2nd floor. For information call Jesus Medel, M.Ed., Director at 713-527-9010.

The San Jacinto Symposium will be held Friday, April 19, 2002 at the JW Marriott Hotel, 5150 Westheimer. Speakers will be Dr. Jesus F. de la Teja, of S.W. Tex. St Univ., Dr. Stephen L. Hardin, Victoria College, Dr. Josefina Vazquez, Colegio de Mex., Gerard Kendall of Sons of the Rep. of Texas, and J.P. Bryan, Past Pres., Tex. St. Historical Assoc. The fee is $30.00. For information call 713-868-3755. On Sat. April 20, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. , the 166th Anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto and Commemorative Ceremony will be held with Ron Stone as emcee at the San Jacinto St. Park. The reenactment by the San Jacinto Volunteers will begin at 3:00 p m. on the San Jacinto battlefield. Food vendors will be available at the park.

There is still time to participate in the Cesar Chavez Parade and Celebration. To volunteer, contact Co-Chairs Linda Alonzo Saenz at 713-540-5449 or Richard Perez at 281-451-0488. We need booth workers and organizers. To participate in the Cinco de Mayo Parade, call Charles Flores of LULAC # 60 at 713-675-6968 or email Project Chair, Andres Ortiz at gunnyortiz@ev1.net For information regarding the festival call Manuel Nava Leal or Carlos Diaz at 713-527-9010.

IDENTITY BY MARIA PALACIOS

I am an indigenous monarch

of Inca heritage

native of an immortal tribe.

The language of my blood

is a mixture of Quechua

and lacerated Spanish

that echoes in my mouth

before it erupts to sound like English

a twist of mispronounced reality.

The legacy of my ancestors

speak to me through the cracks of time

and seeds of manzanilla

growing in my garden

The spirits of the earth rise with the wind

breaking the chains of silence

imposed by conquistadors

once upon a revolution.

I hear the voices from the past,

a past revealed to me in ancient dialects

that filter through my dark skin,

and  through the fibers of my hair,

nest of reconciliation,

where secrets are braided into dreams,

as  the india within me

awakens to sing about freedom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ms. Maria Palacios has worked with American Disabilities as an advocate. She has read in the past for the Nuestra Palabra: " Latino Writers Having Their Say. " The readings are hosted by founder/ writer Tony Diaz (author of "Aztec Love God" at the Talento Bilingue de Houston, 333 S. Jensen, Houston, Texas 77003. For more information call at 713-867-8943 or 713-222-1213 or visit the website at http://www.nuestrapalabra.org . Tony Diaz is also host of the Nuestra Palabra Radio Show, every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. on KPFT 90.1 FM.

Ms. Bea Svambera of LaPorte Jr. High School received a grant from "The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous", for the Anne Frank Room at the Tex. American History Museum, the Jim Watson Learning Center, LaPorte, Tex. Ms. Svambera received the recipient of Leadership in Education Award 2001 by the Texas State Historical Association and continues to receive accolades. The TAHP salutes Ms. Svambera for her excellence and leadership in teaching.

T.A.H.P. ELECTIONS will be held soon and the nominating committee will be composed of five members. They will be prohibited from voting on any nomination for an office that they are personally seeking. The vote will be taken by secret ballot. Chairperson of the Nominating Committee will also be Chairperson of the Election Committee. Call Dr. Sarabia at 713-436-1788 to serve on a committee or run for office.

T.A.H.P. HONORS MEXICAN AND TEXAN SOLDIERS APRIL 21, AT 3:00 P.M. The Tejano Association for Historical Preservation will be laying two wreaths at San Jacinto Monument on April 21, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. The first wreath will be laid as an act of compassion for the Mexican Soldiers who died defending their homeland. The second wreath will be laid in memory and honor of Texas, Tejano and the African American soldiers who fought and died in the Texas Revolution.

The International Freedom Institute of the Southwest will be having a program entitled "Blazing Trails to Freedom: The Underground Railroad in Texas." The program will be hosted by Rosenberg Library at Galveston, Texas June 13-15, 2002. The program will take a look at two subjects of freedom, the belief of a resistance movement in Texas that led fugitive slaves to Mexico either by land or sea and the proclamation announced from the Galveston shores that created a "Jubilee" or what is known today as "Juneteenth " celebration. For information call Allen Grundy at 713-383-8700.

"My race," said Williard Motley "is the human race." 1909-1965