Carranza Memorial Service
July 13, 2013

 

The sign at the Carranza Monument site in Wharton State Forest, Tabernacle, NJ.

 

Looking more-or-less north up Carranza Road, it's about 6.5 miles to the four-way stop in Tabernacle (the intersection of Rt 532). This area is usually pretty quiet with few, if any, cars or people at the monument on the left — except on the day of the annual memorial service. It's not known to me if the memorial is still conducted every July. The American Legion Post 11 events page only goes to July 2018 (not to mention any later COVID disruptions).

 

Here's a not-so-common license plate, evidently one of the Mexican dignitaries in attendance. The right side of the plate has been blurred out.

 

The monument is on the left, the speakers podium is under the blue canopy. The gentleman in the dark jacket is Stephen Lee, then mayor of Tabernacle, NJ, one of the Lee Bothers of cranberry farm fame.

 

The wreaths lined up, ready for presentation.

 

The wreaths from the front.

 

The view from the back of the monument, looking towards Carranza Road.

 

Led by the color guard of Civil Air Patrol cadets, the presenters march onto the field.

 

Mexican children in traditional garb walk past the podium.

 

Some of the crowd along Carranza Road during the invocation.

 

 

The president of the Mt. Holly American Legion Post 11 addresses of the assembly.

 

 

The modest flyover.

 

 

Looking more-or-less south along Carranza Road, towards the old railroad crossing a quarter-mile away where it turns into a dirt road.

 

A salute to Emilio Carranza.

 

A Carranza descendent (left) and Stephen Lee, the mayor of Tabernacle (right) meet. The Lee family had retained the altimeter from Emilio's wrecked plane, but recently returned it to the Carranza family.

 

One of the first groups to present a wreath.

 

A Mexican military officer presents a wreath.

 

A Tabernacle councilman and the mayor present a wreath.

 

After all of the wreaths had been presented, a detachment emerges from the woods behind the monument, recreating the retrieval of Emilio Carranza's remains.

 

They begin to walk around the monument.

 

The stretcher with Carranza's "body" passes by as he still clutches his flashlight

 

They exit the field. In 1928, Carranza's recovered body was temporarily held at Buzby's General Store in Chatsworth.

 

A salute from the rifle squad.

 

The national anthems of Mexico and the United States were played.

 

The monument after the ceremony. Below the picture is a model of Carranza's airplane, The Excelsior, and behind the picture is a piece of the wreckage leaning against the monument.

 

Captain Emilio Carranza Rodriguez.

 

The Mexican flag flies over the Carranza Monument on the day of the memorial service.

 

 

The End