Resaca de la Palma battle remembered with illumination

Hundreds of history-buffs, students and families gathered on Saturday evening at the Resaca de la Palma battlefield to commemorate those who fought in the opening campaign of the U.S.-Mexico war in 1846. As the sun began to fade behind the palm trees, volunteers prepared to walk from the field’s edge toward the grounds where the battle took place and light 8,000 candles to illuminate the scene.

This is the fifth time the memorial illumination has taken place. The battle that took place here, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, occurred more than 163 years ago, on May 9, 1846.

Those in attendance had many reasons for coming. Some, like government teacher Joe Fuentes, were there to educate young people about the battle. Fuentes heads up Rivera High School’s Culture Club, which encourages students to get involved in community events and service.

"This enhances what they get in the classroom," Fuentes said.

The ceremony has become a tradition for professor David Carlson of The University of Texas-Pan American. Carlson drove from Edinburg with his wife to watch the ceremony and says the event brings him closer to the topic he studies: Latin American history.

"I’ve had students who lived here all their lives, yet had no idea that the opening battles of the war between the U.S. and Mexico happened locally," Carlson said. "This ceremony is a living diorama. It makes history more accessible."

Volunteers made the trek to the ceremony from as far away as San Antonio to present authentic replicas of costumes worn during the battle, fire weaponry and explain the history of the battle to visitors.

Charles Lara, who represented a soldier in the Mexican army during the day’s demonstrations of weaponry, said that bringing his heritage to life is one of his most important and proud commitments.

"Latino military history is long and prestigious," Lara said. "It’s important to give young Latinos a sense of their identity."

Lara and his fellow volunteers regularly meet to share new historical information they collect about the war.

"When I went into the library as a kid there were little to no books on Latinos," Lara said. "Now we do our research and we always find nuggets that keep us interested in doing what we do."