Honoring Those Who Served

Veteran's Day Parade 2020 WWII Soldiers Forgotten The Army's Only All-Mexican American In celebration of Veteran's Day, an annual American holiday honoring military and those who have served, as well as Military Family Appreciation One” – Participants are encouraged to pay tribute to Veterans and all who have served the community by using red, white, and blue colors, American Grand Marshals Announced Unit to Serve in World War II Month in November, the annual parade will be held, despite COVID-19. The Veteran's Day Parade was created or military branch flags. Veterans, their family members, businesses, advocates, organizations, marching bands, and all BY JUAN CASTILLO When the young Chicanos who fought valiantly in World War II returned home, many did not return to the high schools they had left to go fight for their country. By then, they felt they were too old. But they made sure their children finished school and exceled, says Arnulfo Hernández Jr., a co-author of “The Men of Company E: Toughest Chicano Soldiers of World War II.” The new book tells the largely untold story of the El Paso, Texas-based Company E, of the 141st U.S. Army Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 36th Division, whose highly decorated soldiers helped to liberate Rome from the Nazis in 1944. Company E was the only U.S. Army company comprised entirely of Chicanos during the war. These soldiers were heroic on the battlefields abroad, Hernández said, but they may have left their most lasting imprint back in their homeland by forging a path for their children and for subsequent generations stand, and we don’t recognize that,” Hernández said. A Sacramento, Calif.-based attorney and a Navy veteran during the Vietnam era, Hernández spoke to NBC about his reasons for writing the book, primarily the fact that recent popular books and documentaries on the "Greatest Generation's" duty, honor and love of their country were about "us" but largely ignored Company E. "It was a slap in our face," says Hernández, who thinks it's paramount to keep Mexican American history alive. Below is a condensed interview. Interviewer: What led you to write this book (with co-author Samuel S. Ortega)? Hernández: It’s a history that you do not hear or see in our history books. It’s a history that’s not in the textbooks for our kids to know about. Interviewer: I’ve heard you say you feel a sense of moral obligation to tell the story of these young men. What do you mean by that? Hernández:I am a Mexican American. I know no other country except this one. They were just like young kids are today. Traviesos. (Mischievous) They were happy-go-lucky guys. They were unafraid of death in war. What made them special was that they were so patriotic and there were no acts of cowardice in this group. Their motto was “Los de la Tres, no se rajan.” (We with Company E don’t back down.) In our research for the book, we came across the writings of a lieutenant with the 36th division, who said, “My Mexicans are not afraid of the devil. I saw one stand his ground with his automatic rifle until he was blown away by a tank.” Interviewer: What do you hope to accomplish with this book? Hernandez: We hope that as the story unfolds that people begin to appreciate their story, and we hope we can inspire the younger folks, the new writers to look into their history. We hope we can be an at least an instrument where young folks not only can feel the pride in their heritage but want to explore it. Interviewer: How important is it to tell these stories about Mexican American honor West Texas Veterans and Military Families and will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2020! "This is the 5th year, and despite COVID-19 we committed to social distancing and honoring these veterans in the safest way, " said Christy Martinez- Garcia, Chair of the Parade Committee. She said that this year they would be recognizing Chapter 0900 of the Military Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for their dedication of bringing the Monument of Courage to the Hub City as 2020 Grand Marshalls of the parade, adding that they hope to have many supporters cheering them on as well as the participating veterans and advocates. "These groups have served our country with dedication and courage, and then sacrificed the dedication of the Gold Star Families and other Purple Hearts. More so, these families have made the ultimate sacrifice and we hope that the community comes out to thank them" The 2020 theme is: “We Stand as advocates are encouraged to participate. She said that the event will be held Saturday, November 7, 2020, with set up time at from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and then the parade will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will start at the East parking lot of First Baptist Church at Broadway; participants are urged to enter through Avenue V. The route will begin off Avenue U, to Broadway, heading East down Broadway, and then North on Avenue M to the Civic Center Parking lot. This is a program of Los Hermanos Familia a nonprofit committed to strengthening family and building community. This year’s sponsors include Metro by T-Mobile, Mighty Car Wash, and Latino Lubbock Magazine. All Veterans and Veteran organizations are welcomed to participate and can register online at www. loshermanosfamilia.org/veteran-sday-parade Onlookers are encouraged to stay in their cars to honor veterans, place a box on their hood for candy, and wear masks. subsequent generations. I know they made it possible for me to history? Company E was the only U.S. Army finish high school, go to college and to Hernandez: If we don’t tell our story, company comprised entirely of Chicanos become a member of the California State no one else will … Chicano history during the war. Bar. I feel an obligation now that I’m at is American history. Without the Company E members like Abner the end of my career to be able to convey participation of Chicanos, American Carrasco, who died in 2014, had children that we owe so much to these men. history is incomplete. who became lawyers and corporate Interviewer: Who were these young The message is important to convey: executives. Because soldiers like men of Company E? We have much to be proud of. The Carrasco would no longer accept the Hernandez: Eighty-five members of Mexican American answered the call status quo – the second-class citizenship Mexican Americans had endured for so long – they made it possible for future that company were from Bowie High School (in El Paso), where I would later graduate from. They were from of duty. They pushed aside the racism they were subjected to at home to go abroad and defeat the greatest racist the OUR OBJECTIVE “Strengthening Families, Building Community”generations to become successful and the southeast barrios, from the poorest world has ever known. When they came to grab a piece of the American dream, Hernández told NBC News. parts of El Paso. They grew up during the Depression, and many of them dropped back, they said, “We’re not going to put up with this stuff anymore.” Join our efforts and become a member today. “These are the giants on whose out of high school to help the family out shoulders we of the Boomer and financially. Page 14 Visit us online at www.latinolubbock.net

Marcelino Serna, Most Decorated Texan of World War I When the U.S. entered World War One in 1917, it is estimated that roughly 500,000 people who after this episode, when Serna discovered the position of an enemy sniper. He shot and wounded the joined the United States armed services were immi- enemy who dragged himself back to his trench, but grants. According to the National Park Service, this Serna scouted after him and, in a solo encounter with amounted to 18 per- the enemy soldiers cent of U.S. troops. on their “home terFrom the memoirs rain,” the Mexican of Sergeant Alvin managed to capture York from Tennes- 24 soldiers and kill see, one of the most another 26. highly decorated Americans who As he led the deserved in the U.S. feated opponents forces during World to the base of the War One, we can Allies, some of the learn more about fellows in his unit life for this diverse proposed that the collection of people. captives needed to At first, he writes, be executed, howhe had been shocked ever, Serna, always by the fact that there knowing when to were so many for- say no, refused to let eigners in his units: this happen. Italians, Poles, Irish, Greeks, and Mexi- By the end of the cans. But, as he rec- war, Serna had sufollects, they soon became his buddies and he “learned to love them.” Many of these non-American soldiers went on to fered more wounds but luckily he had returned home alive. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the "We Stand as One" prove that their bravery and dedication to the cause highest American combat medal. His medal was prewas of the highest order. Among these, one of the most highly decorated was a Mexican-born illegal immigrant named Marcelino Serna, the first Mexican sented to him by General John. J. Pershing, who was the commander-in-chief on behalf the American Expeditionary Forces. His unit also received the French Sat., November 7, 2020 American to collect a Distinguished Service Cross. Croix de Guerre with palm, which was presented by He migrated from his home country of Mexico to the supreme commander of the Allied Forces in EuEl Paso, Texas, in 1915, when he was almost 20 years old. After working illegally for two years, Serna was rope himself, the French Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Serna later received another French medal as well Line-Up from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. eventually arrested by Federal officials concerning his status as a citizen. While he waited to find out if as the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra (War Merit Cross) in a ceremony hosted at Fort Bliss and attended Parade 10 a.m. he was to be deported back to Mexico, Serna decided by the Texas Governor of the day, William P. Hobby. that he would show his desire to become a U.S. citizen In the 1930s, following a petition carried out by by volunteering for the army. He received less than a month of training in Kansas, after which he was deployed with his infantry unit to Europe, to fight in the another World War One veteran Cleofas Calleros, a Mexican who had lied about his citizenship in order to enter the U.S. army, Serna was additionally awarded the Purple Heart Sponsored by French trenches. He was part of the 89th and the Allied Victory Medal. Many Infantry Division. Serna did not speak have questioned, though, why Marmuch English and upon his arrival, his celino Serna was never presented with superiors immediately noted he was the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Mexican. They offered to discharge most prestigious of all U.S. military him from service, but Serna politely decorations. According to Serna himdeclined. self, part of the reason is that his superiOn the battle lines, he proved his cour- ors never recommended him due to his age as a soldier several times, his ac- low rank and insufficient knowledge of tions speaking for themselves as to why the English language to obtain a rank he was worth all the decorations he later promotion. For some critics, Serna’s collected. In one confrontation with en- case may have been a blunder based on emy soldiers, his squad was attacked prejudice because of his origins. and 12 fellows were killed. Injured him- Still, the total number of medals which self, Serna nevertheless proceeded with Serna received in the course of the war the fight, going after the attackers and meant he returned as the most highly capturing eight adversaries. On the battle lines, he proved his courage as a soldier several times, his actions speaking for themselves as to why he was worth all the decorations he later collected. In one confrontation with enemy decorated Texan soldier. As soon as his army service was through in May 1919, Serna returned to live in El Paso. He obtained U.S. citizenship in 1924, by which time he had already settled down with his spouse Simona Jiménez, with To register or for more details visit: www.loshermanosfamilia.org soldiers, his squad was attacked and 12 fellows were whom he had six children. killed. Injured himself, Serna nevertheless proceeded Marcelino Serna passed away in El Paso in 1992, with the fight, going after the attackers and capturing and full military combat honors NOTE: Social Distancing Will be Observed. eight adversaries. Perhaps his most brilliant action followed shortly followed his funeral at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. PLEASE protect our veterans, wear masks. Copyright 2020 by Latino Lubbock Magazine All Rights reserved. November/noviembre 2020, Vol. 14, Issue 11 Page 15

Anniversary Rufus & Julia Carrillo, 60th as of Nov. 21, 1959

Anniversary Fernando and Suzy Salas, 56th as of November 28, 1964

Anniversary Martin and Mary Rivera, 44th as of Nov. 19, 1976 ¡Felicidades! Congratulations!

Anniversary Raul & Esther Salazar, 15th as of November 5th

Happy Birthday! I hope today is amazing for you, and look forward to what comes next. You are an amazing mother and deserve all the best - never let anyone tell you different.

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#GivingTuesday Los Hermanos Familia (LHF) is participating in #GivingTuesdayWTX, a day dedicated to local giving and generosity & to make giving history for local charities. Los Hermanos Familia, a 501(C) (3), is a collaborative group of men, women, and youth who value God, family, and community. "We are committed to our objective, strengthening families, building community, said Christy Martinez-Garcia, President and Founder of LHF. "We work to offer programming that gives families and the community opportunities to connect, engage, and have fun." All funds raised go towards the various programs hosted by Los Hermanos Familia, including: Adelante Awards, Cinco de Mayo Parade, Mini Pinewood Derby, S.W.I.M, Vamos a Pescar, Let's Go Fishing Event, Veteran's Day Parade, and the West Texas Latino Artist Show & Día de los Muertos Celebración, the myOn Los Hermanos Familia Needs Your Support Digital Reading Library, the Veteran's Day Parade, as well as their scholarship program and much more. In addition, LHF raised funds for outdoor fitness equipment stations located along the walking trail at Buddy Holly Lake on North University and Cesar Chavez Drive. "There are many health disparities, and many of the same families cannot afford to go to a gym, as such this will be free and accessible to the public year-round. This is one example of our dedication to strengthening families and why we are asking for support to reach our goal," she said. She added that they recognize that academically, children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors. As such, their "Read to Lead, Read to Grow" Little Library Project are being placed to provide 24/7 access to books (and encourage a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. "As can be seen Los Hermanos Familia is an organization increasing the habitus for area families by fostering an environment that offers them more exploration, and thus knowledge and life experiences." She said that donations can be made by visiting www.loshermanosfamilia.org until December 1, 2020. Step 1: Visit www.loshermanosfamili.org Step 2: Click on the #GivingTuesdayWTX tab, under Donate Step 3: Click the Visit Our #GivingTuesday Page button Step 4: Click Donate Step 5: Select your amount, and fill out your card information *If you would like to donate via cash or check, please call (806) 792-1212 to drop off the donations. Step 6: Please share with your friends on Facebook, and join us for our many activities. For more details about Los Hermanos Familia and their programming, please visit www.loshermanosfamilia.org tar" and "That's done all through November. It's an All Souls' tradition..." All Souls' Day is a commemoration of the faithfully departed and is observed primarily in the Catholic Church. Its origins date back to European folklore related to customs of veneration practiced worldwide through evens like the Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) or the Chinese Ghost Festival. To remember the departed, many cultures prepare meals for the souls of the dead, light candles or leave flowers on relatives' graves and some anoint tombstones with holy water or pour milk over them. All Souls' day is celebrated November second and if that day happens to fall on a Sunday, the Mass is of All Souls and Morning and Evening Prayer (Lauds and Vespers) for the Dead can be said while people participate. Each celebration touches on cultural beliefs about the spirit world, honoring the dead and feasts. While Halloween is said and gone, many are now preparing for a celebration of the communion of saints, those people we believe are in heaven, through good works and God's grace. All Saints' Day is celebrated the first day of November while All Souls' Day is celebrated November 2. All Saints' Day is a day Catholics offer prayers to those in purgatory. Both are related, but they are two separate celebrations. On All Saints' Day there's a call to live as saints, to remind all how they're supposed to live. On All Souls' Day, they're talking about all souls and asking God's mercy for them. They're talking about those people who have died before them, and their process of getting to heaven, through Christ ... It has its roots all the way back to the fourth century. It is on this day that the Book of the Dead is opened to allow parishioners to write the names of relatives to be remembered. The book is "placed near the alCelebrating All Saints Day & All Souls Day Page 16 Read us online at www.latinolubbock.net

‘Selena: The Series’ on Netflix HHS Unaware of Family

Takes on Tejano Superstar Separation Pilot Netflix has been very deliberate in their roll-out plans for their upcoming series based around the life of the late Tejano superstar Selena. It was last November that the streaming service gave us a brief teaser for the show, giving us our first glimpse at “Walking Dead” actress Christian Serratos, who is set to play Selena. But since then there’s been little movement until last week when another teaser, actually showing Serratos performing, hit the internet. Now, the first official trailer is here and it’ll make you want to dance. This is the first attempt at a series documenting the life of the Tejano singer who was poised for an English-language crossover before her untimely death at the age of 23. In 1997 director Gregory Nava helmed the first biopic on the singer, “Selena,” starring Jennifer Lopez. Despite criticisms the movie received at the time for casting Puerto Rican actress Lopez in the role — Quintanilla Perez was Mexican-American — the film has become a classic and one of the most popular features directed by a Latino. “Selena: The Series” is also one of the few Selena-centric projects to receive the full blessing of Quintanilla Perez’s family. It’s unclear how much ground “Selena: The Series,” overseen by creator and executive producer Moisés Zamora, will cover in its first nine episodes though it’s clear it will touch on her childhood performing in the band “Selena y Los Dinos,” as well as her close relationship with her father and manager, Abraham. Selena broke barriers as she rose to fame in the early 1990s. Many popular Tejano musicians were men and Quintanilla Perez was able to command respect both by MexicanAmericans as well as those living in Mexico. The singer’s life came to an end in 1995 when she was shot to death by the former president of her fan club. “Selena: The Series” drops on Netflix December 4. We can't wait! BY JULIA AINSLEY AND JACOB SOBOROFF The federal agency that cares for migrant children was not told the Trump administration was intentionally separating parents and children at the border, even after an official asked why there was a surge in unaccompanied minors requiring care, says a report released Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee. In 2017, the administration launched a pilot program for separating migrant children and half of 2017. In a December 2017 email cited by the report, then-Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told an HHS official who had asked about the surge, “You should have seen a change in the past 10 days or so.” The pilot program had just ended, which is why McAleenan told the HHS official he should’ve seen a change. McAleenan did not, however, tell the official that the months-long surge had been the result of intentional family separations. "Unbeknownst to HHS, CBP had been conducting a family separaA Sacred Journey: A Love Story parents in El Paso, Texas. The program lasted about six months, during which time more than 1,100 children were separated tion pilot in the El Paso Border Patrol Sector that led to hundreds of separations," said the report. Lawyers responsible for reunitFilmmaker Ernesto Quintero's remarkable documentary, A Sacred Journey (ASJ), will make you want to run home and hug your loved ones. In this heroic film, the camera glides into the complexities of a brother's devastating terminal diagnosis and However, ASJ is so much more than the tragic circumstances of Juan's life. The film traverses the difficult terrain of a story of illness with a graceful balance of laughter and celebration; as such, amidst the sadness and loss, emerges a story of transcendent love and unity. It is a film that demonstrates, time and again, the power of love to elevate caregivers in the nation; it is likely that either you are taking care of someone or you yourself are going to be taken care of. This concept is most powerfully personified in the film by Micaela Quintero, the family's matriarch, who at sixty-eight gave up her successful thirty-year flower shop in order to go back to school and obtain a Certified Nurse from their parents, according to court documents. According to the House report, the Department of Health and Human Services, which provides care to migrant children, was concerned about the rising number of unaccompanied children that had been sent to it by Customs and Border Protection in the latter ing separated families recently disclosed in court that they have been unable to find the parents of 545 children separated in the 2017 pilot program. the immense even the most heartrending of Assistant certificate which would care from family and community circumstances. One of the many miracles the film demonstrates is the fact that his allow her to best care for her son at home, full time. Additionally, her husband and five children also fulfill BUEN PROVECHO! BUEN PROVECHO! that will be brother's diagnosis proved to be their roles as caregivers, as do close required the catalyst that pulled filmmaker family friends; it's truly a gathering to see him Ernesto Quintero out of a near-fatal, of heroes, Juan included. through the ten-year drug addiction. He describes Ernesto, along with the Quintero three years he was given to live. the journey he hopes the film will take family, are grateful that the film At 35, Juan Jose Quintero was its viewers on: "It's a story that fills can now be seen by everybody on diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic you with compassion for Juan and Amazon. The filmmaker sums up Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou the challenges he experiences, and his message of hope: "Ultimately, it's Gehrig's Disease), a ravaging disease it's a powerful barometer for taking my intention that you be left with an that eventually renders patients a look at your own life.” immense appreciation for your own completely immobile as the nerve What also becomes apparent life, for even the small moments cells that control muscle movement throughout the film is the utterly of true connection or silliness, for begin to die. ALS is still a mystery courageous nature of caregiving. the love of your family and a real to the medical field, and as such, it A Clorox study review revealed gratitude and awareness of all the is considered incurable. that there are currently 66 million things that really matter in life." 24th & Ave. Q 34th & Indiana YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE! Near Downtown 747-5998 24th & Ave. Q Near Texas Tech 784-0300 34th & Indiana Wear Your Mask! ¡Usa tu máscara! Election Day is November 3rd ¡TU VOTO CUENTA! Dia de la votación es del 3 de noviembre. 70th & Indiana S Loop 289 & Indiana 797-8646 orlandos.com Near Downtown 747-5998 70th & Indiana S Loop 289 & Indiana 797-8646 caprockcafe.com 82nd & Slide Southwest Lubbock 771-2233 Near Texas Tech 784-0300 82nd & Slide Southwest Lubbock 771-2233 Copyright 2020 by Latino Lubbock Magazine All Rights reserved. November/noviembre 2020, Vol. 14, Issue 11 Page 17orlandos.com caprockcafe.com