Mexicans, Americans from 1846 battle remembered

Duncan Sudarshan had heard about the battle at Resaca de la Palma, so when he learned the public was invited to light 8,000 candles at the site, he decided to participate.

“In our history class, we are studying the Mexican-American War. Interesting coincidence,” said Sudarshan, a 17-year-old junior at St. Joseph’s Academy.

Between 300 and 400 people came to light candles in small paper “luminaria” bags in the field — on Paredes Line Road near Price Road — where the battle of Resaca de la Palma was fought on May 9, 1846. It was the second battle of the U.S.–Mexican War, said Mark Spier, superintendent of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park. Spier said the property is within the boundaries of Palo Alto but is currently under the ownership of the Brownsville Community Foundation.

He said he was “pleased, very pleased,” with the turnout.

“I think it’s a great community event,” he said. “I think every year it gets better and better.”

Lorena Jordan said she was also happy to see so many people turn out for the event.

“We saw it in the newspaper and wanted to come and participate,” she said.

“We wanted to commemorate the soldiers,” said her 13-year-old son Max.

Numerous organizations also participated.

“We have an organization of young men called DeMolay, the Phoenix chapter,” said George Perez, a chapter dad, who said the organization is comprised of young men ages 12 – 21.

“We do civic help, you know,” he said. “So last year we came out and set up in the morning. This year we came out here for the lighting in the evening. We came here to remember the soldiers that fought here, whether Mexican, American, or whatever.”

Several people were dressed as soldiers of either the United States or Mexico from that period.

“It’s pretty special,” said Daniel Ybarra, who was dressed in the uniform of a Mexican soldier in 1846.

“I get to do this as part of my profession,” said Ybarra. “I am a park ranger at Palo Alto, and part of my duties is being a living historian. To be out here standing in this field, these men, many of whom paid the ultimate price, it’s pretty special. People come up to you and this is what you would have seen if you’d been here on this day.”

He spoke as the sun slowly descended from the sky, and 8,000 candles — one for each U.S. and Mexican soldier who fought that day — began to glow across the field. Too often, he said, people get caught up in numbers and figures. There was a lot more to the people who fought here in 1846.

“They were people who came from hometowns, they had mothers and fathers,” he said. “It’s events like this that bring that home to people.”

Wade Marcum was dressed as a U.S. infantry captain from 1846 and was singing “Rosin the Beau,” a popular song from the period, while another soldier played a flute.

“Often,” Marcum said, “people see things from one side. A lot of men fought and died for something they believed in. Everybody always thinks that God’s on their side and what they are doing is right.”

Sudarshan appreciated the significance of the battle here.

“It’s an important event,” he said. “I thought I should honor the soldiers who fought here. This was an important war. It’s why Texas is a state.”

Spier said the date of the event was chosen because November is the month of Veterans Day in the U.S. and also is the time that Mexicans remember their dead.