Saint Patrick's Day usually just slips right by me, but this year I took notice simply because my grandson, Dylan had his DNA test done and he is about 30% Irish. No big surprise since he looks like a leprechaun.
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| Dylan Micah Ethridge |
Then a little-known chapter in history was brought to my attention. Saint Patrick's Day is not just a day to party and drink generic green beer in Mexico. Instead, the holiday commemorates a group of Irish immigrants who deserted the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War to fight for Mexico. It is a profound day of remembrance honoring the Batallón de San Patricio (Saint Patrick's Battalion).
My interest has always been focused on when the Americas were a part of Spain, especially New Mexico since I am mostly of Spanish decent and my ancestors have been in New Mexico for hundreds of years. New Mexico didn't become a state until 1912 and beyond that, the dates of the transfer of power to the US have always been really unclear to me.
Overall, the Spanish Empire in the Americas lasted from 1492 until 1898. However, New Mexico was only a part of Mexico for 27 years, from 1821, when Mexico gained independence from Spain, until 1848, when the territory was ceded to the United States following the Mexican-American War.
The Mexican-American War, began as a border dispute following the U.S. annexation of Texas. So, during the Mexican-American War, which was fought between 1846 and 1848, there were hundreds of immigrants, mostly of Irish descent, who deserted the U.S. Army to fight alongside Mexico. This elite military unit was composed mostly of Catholic Irish immigrants was called The Saint Patrick's Battalion or Batallón de San Patricio and consisted of several hundred mostly Irish Catholics but there were also German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Swiss and Canadians who were Catholic.They deserted the U.S. army due to shared religious faith, better pay, and their opposition to U.S. aggression. The bad news is... they were brutally executed or branded as traitors by the U.S.
This really surprised me. Something you would never read in our school history books. Batallón de San Patricio were remembered as heroes who defended Mexico out of religious affinity and due to unfair treatment within the U.S. ranks. The San Patricios participated in many of the bloodiest battles during the American invasion of Mexico.
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The Monument to Battalion de St. Patricio is a permanent monument that stands in San Jacinto Plaza, Mexico City. It lists the names of the Irish soldiers who gave their lives for the Mexican cause. |
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| The San Patricios are revered and honored in Mexico and Ireland. Fifty-one of them were executed by the U.S. in San Jacinto Square. |
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY Today we remember Los San Patricios, who stood against injustices during the Mexican American War of 1846-1848.
Pop culture tributes include a recent commemorative album by The Chieftains, an Irish folk band: It includes traditional Mexican folkloric music performed with a fusion of Irish and Mexican instrumentation.
Click the link below to listen.
