The following photos were taken not in  Mexico but in Lincoln Park, Los Angeles California. I must admit that it sickens me to see statues of the heroes of another country set up in My United States of AMERICA. Now I know that the loony liberals in the California  Chicano Studies Classes & their brainwashed "Hitler youth" style "Brown Beret" puppets think that California really is part of  Azetlan (the Camelot dreamland of America hating liberal Brown Berets) but last time & paid my taxes it was to the U.S. Government with U. S. Currency so that a shrine to Mexico's heroes can be built on American soil. I was thinking that I should insist that my German heritage be enshrined at taxpayers expense so I can place idols of Dr. Zeppelin, Kiser Wilhelm, The Red Barron & Hitler - But then I would never do that because I know I'm an American not German-American.

Benito Juarez (1806-1872) led the Liberal forces against the Conservatives during the War of Reform between 1858-1861. Elected for four terms as President, he resisted imperial control by France, improved education and transportation and established harmonious relations with foreign countries. During his first term, France imposed a puppet regime under Maximilian and Juarez moved his government to what is now the city of Juarez, across from El Paso along the Rio Grande. After the end of the United States Civil War, the United States pressured France to remove its troops from Mexico. Without military support, Maximilian was captured, tried and executed the following year. Juarez's third term as President is noted for advancing education, investing in the nation's infrastructure, and improving relations with foreign countries. Juarez was elected for a fourth term in 1871, but died from a stroke the following year.

Lazaro Cardenas (1895-1970), President of Mexico between 1934-1940, implemented dramatic and long overdue reforms. He redistributed 45 million acres of land to peasants, nationalized the petroleum industry and reformed education. While these programs made Cardenas a hero to the agrarian and urban masses, he became an enemy of rich and influential Americans, particularly those in the oil industry.

Ramon Lopez Velarde (1881-1921) was modern Mexico's greatest poet. He wrote personal and intimate poetry about Catholic provincialism, nationalism and internal conflicts. His most popular poem, La Suave Patria was written in 1921 to commemorate the Centennial of Mexican Independence.

General Ortega (1822-1881), one of the important field commanders for the Liberal forces led by Juarez during the War of Reform, inflicted the final military defeat of the Conservatives shortly before Christmas, 1860. After General Zaragoza's death, Ortega led the Mexican army against France's imposition of the reign of Maximilian.

General Zaragoza (1826-1862) one of the successful field commanders for the Liberals during the War of Reform (1858-1861), defeated the Conservatives led by the Catholic Church in a significant battle at Guadalajara. Zaragoza was later appointed minister of war in 1861 by Juarez, but resigned to command the Ejercito de Oriente (Eastern Army). As commander of this army, he defeated invading French forces at Puebla on May 5, 1862, adding Cinco de Mayo to Mexico's national holidays.

Francisco Zuniga (1912-) was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. After working two decades for the Mexican government creating monuments and memorials, he acquired an international reputation with a personal style and individual language. The monument to General Zaragoza and the one to Velarde were probably executed when Zuniga was employed by the government.

Guadalupe Victoria (1786-1843), acknowledging the Virgin of Guadalupe as the symbol of the insurgents against Spain, changed his name from Manuel Felix Fernandez after joining the struggle for independence. During the revolution, Victoria conducted guerilla warfare near Veracruz and Puebla. After Mexico won its independence in 1821, Victoria supported President Augustin de Iturbe but then opposed him when he arrested political opponents. Victoria later became Mexico's first elected President, serving between 1824-1829. During his presidency, Mexico was organized as a federation of states. This arrangement gave La Pueblo de Los Angeles, which has a population of about 700 and was Alta California's largest non-Native American settlement, a great deal of political autonomy. With the dedication of the bust of Victoria on December 4, 1996, El Parque de Mexico now has commemorative statuary linking the history of Mexico from the start of its revolt against Spain through the beginning of its independence.

This Statue is of Pancho Villa who murdered U. S. citizens living in Mexico & declared war on America by attacking Columbus, New Mexico. He was the Osama bin Laden of the early 1900s. Now is this the type of "hero" America needs to enshrine?

Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon (1765-1815), a parish priest like Hidalgo, became the leader of the independence movement against Spain following the execution of Fr. Hidalgo. Under his leadership, a Declaration of Independence was drafted in 1813 by the first National Congress. Two years later, Morelos was captured, tried and executed.

Venustiano Garranza (1859-1920 became the head of the Provisional government in 1914, after several years of political instability following the overthrow of the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. Three years later, Carranza was elected the first President of the new Mexican Republic. But after failing to institute reforms spelled out in the new Constitution, he was overthrown and assassinated in 1920 in a coup led by Alvaro Obregon.

Fr. Hidalgo (1753-1811), who began Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain, is an important figure in the history of the state of California and the City of Los Angeles. After an uprising planned for December, 1810 was discovered by Spanish authorities, Hidalgo summoned his parish in the early morning of September 16 by ringing the church bells of his church in Dolores. In what is now called the Grito de Dolores, Hidalgo stirred the crowd to take up arms against Spanish domination. His untrained peasant army quickly defeated better armed and disciplined Spanish troops and conquered a number of cities, including Guanajuato. But after being defeated in January 1811, Hidalgo's army quickly disintegrated. Hidalgo was later captured and following a trial by the Inquisition, executed in Chihuahua. However, the revolution he began did not die but continued until Mexico, which included California, obtained its independence in 1821.