Proclamation
WHEREAS, in the early hours of September 16, 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave ‘‘El Grito de Dolores’’, a call to arms signaling the star of the war to liberate Mexico from Spanish rule. After 11 years of war, Spain withdrew its troops in August of 1821, and Mexico became an independent nation; and WHEREAS, the great State of California was a territory of Mexico from 1821 through 1846, and remnants of that history is evident today in the names of cities such as Merced, Dos Palos, Los Banos, Madera, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, among others; and WHEREAS, a significant portion of residents in Merced and the Central Valley are of Mexican heritage, sharing their rich history and culture to great benefit for our community and economy; and WHEREAS, due to the importance of the Mexican community in the development of the state of California, especially the Central Valley, the Government of Mexico opened this Consulate in 1931. The City of Merced recognizes the contributions of Mexico to our community and honor the unbreakable bond between our cultures; we join in celebrating the 212th anniversary of the Independence of Mexico and the 91st anniversary of the Mexican Consulate in the Central Valley.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matthew serratto, Mayor of the City of Merced, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2022 as ‘‘THE 212th ANNIVERSARY OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE AND THE 91st ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSULATE OF MEXICO IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY DAY’’ in the City of Merced.
Signed this 19th day of September, 2022.
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced