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July 13, 2006

Squadron Members are Proud Participants in Carranza Memorial Ceremonies

A CAP aircraft makes a low flyover above the memorial site.

CHATSWORTH, NJ-Seventy eight years ago, July 12, aviation pioneer and Mexican hero Emilio Carranza was flying back to Mexico on his way home from a goodwill mission when his plane crashed deep in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey. The Mount Holly Post 11 of the American Legion located the crash site, carried his body out of the pines and stood guard over him until he could be transported back home to Mexico for burial. Since then, Post 11 has kept Emilio Carranza's mission of peace and goodwill alive by erecting a monument in his honor with the help of fundraising by Mexican schoolchildren, maintaining the site and being dedicated to holding a memorial ceremony every July in his honor.

Group 225 Commander Major Jennings and Group Staff Member CMSgt McHugh stand by the memorial.

On July 8, 2006, with a crowd of more than two hundred, including documentary video crews from Hollywood, CA and Rutgers University's Film Program, Post 11 continued their tradition of dedication to Carranza's mission. Starting with a flyover by Dr. Sabel, Lt Russ and Lt Growney in CAP aircraft and ending with a twenty-one gun salute performed by the American Legion, the ceremony lasted over two hours and included a reenactment of the retrieval of Carranza's body. The Air Victory Museum Composite squadron's color guard, as well as a flight of cadets, marched in the opening parade around the memorial before standing off to the side for the ceremonies, and New Jersey Wing Group 225 Commander, Major Jennings, was the speaker representative for the United States. In addition, the squadron commander, 1st Lt Bolognone, and Cadets Capiak and Wright, laid a wreath for the Civil Air Patrol at the foot of the memorial for the fallen "Lindberg of Mexico."

For more information on Post 11, Emilio Carranza's life, and his memorial please visit http://www.post11.org/carranza.

Written by:
Jamie Wright, C/Capt, CAP
Cadet Executive Officer
Air Victory Museum Composite Squadron

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