Los Ninos Heroes

Los Niño’s Heroes

Courage is to have the self-fortitude to stand up for what is right. Putting your needs aside and helping for the greater cause. In order to cross a threshold one has to have self- courage along with determination and motivation, following through regardless of the results. Los Niño’s Heroes (The Heroic Children) are a piece of Mexican History that stands out. The date was September 13, 1847 six brave young men fought valiantly for their country during the Mexican-American War. Tragically, they died defending the honor of their country. The ages of these six young men ranged from 13 to 19 years of age. The Mexican-American war was in its final chapter when the Battle of Chapultepec took place. Years preceding the war, Chapultepec Castle had been utilized as Mexico’s military training academy. When the war broke out there were dozens of teenage cadets in attendance. General Nicolas Bravo who was the commander of the forces stationed at Chapultepec Hill apparently saw that the American Forces were quickly advancing and triumphing, so he ordered his men, including the cadets to retreat to safety.

The six young men, however, refused to leave their post and bravely meet the superior forces of the Americans. At that point in time is where you see all six of them pass that threshold of, “I must defend my country, my country needs me!” Without a second thought they threw themselves into a battle that they did not need to fight. Never the less, they were fighting for a bigger purpose and didn’t care what the costs would be. Their names were Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escutia, Francisco Marquez, Agustin Melgar, Fernando Montes de Oca and Vicente Suarez. They died that September day, defending their country. Their sacrifices have been forever etched into Mexico’s history. One of the cadets Juan Escutia is believed to have wrapped himself in the Mexican Flag before plummeting himself to his death. If one was to visit Chapultepec, there is a great...