I am
pleased to send warm greetings to all those gathered to
celebrate
Cinco de Mayo.
May 5th
marks the triumph of the spirit of freedom for the people
of
Mexico. The victory of General Ignacio Zaragoza and his
Mexican
troops over the superior French forces at the Battle of
Puebla
served as a stirring reminder of the determination to win
the fight
for Mexico's freedom from foreign intervention. The
Cinco de
Mayo display of courage and purpose is a source of pride
for all
freedom-loving people.
We
Americans cherish our deep historical, cultural, economic,
and, in
many cases, family ties with Mexico and Latin America.
Cinco de
Mayo cele-brations remind us how much Hispanics have
influenced
and enriched the United States. Hispanic Americans
contribute
to the shared traditions that are part of our history,
including
entrepreneurship, a sense of com-munity where neighbor
helps
neighbor, faith, and love of family. On this special day,
I encourage
Americans to reaffirm the ties of culture and
friendship
we share with the people of Mexico and with Hispanic
Americans.
As you
enjoy the day with parades, folkloric dancing, and other
festive
activities, Laura joins me in sending best wishes for a
joyous
celebration.
George W. Bush
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