Hero Children (Mexico)

In 1836, Texas proclaimed its independence from Mexico , and was later annexed by the United States , which will cause war . Weakened by the recent Revolutionary War, Mexico could not resist the U.S. Army and on September 8, the Americans approached the capital, Mexico City , on September 12, starting shelling an important defensive point in the city of Chapultepec Castle , which guarded only 922 people, including 200 cadets over the age of 13.

On September 13, the fall of the castle became apparent and the commander of the defense, General Bravo, ordered the retreat, but six cadets refused to fulfill the order, entering the history as “Hero Children” ^[1] .

1. Juan de la Barrera

Juan de La Barrera was born in 1828 in Mexico City in the family of General Ignacio Maria de La Barrera and Juana Insarruagi, was the oldest of the heroes cadets. Already at the age of 12 he was enlisted in the army and on November 18, 1843 he was admitted to the military academy, which was located in the castle of Chapultepec. By the time of the battle, he was enrolled in a sapper battalion and died defending one of the batteries. Rank: lieutenant.

2. Juan Escutia

Juan Escutia was born in the city of Tepic , the exact date of birth is unknown, somewhere between 1828 and 1832. Admitted to the Military Academy on September 8, 1847 . While serving at the observation tower, he tried to prevent the capture of the flag by wrapping it around himself and jumping down. The artist Gabriel Flores created a picture of this feat ^{[3] [4]} .

3. Francisco Marquez

Francisco Marquez was born in Guadalajara in 1834 and was the youngest of six cadets (13 years old). It is known that his mother, Michaela Paniagua, after the death of his father Francisco, married the captain of the cavalry Francisco Ortiz. He entered the Military Academy on January 14, 1847 . His body was found on the eastern slope, next to the body of Juan Escutia.

4. Agustin Melgar

Agustin Melgar was born in the city of Chihuahua , the exact date of birth is unknown, somewhere between 1828 and 1832. His parents, Esteban Melgar and Maria de la Luz Sevilla, died when Agustin was still very young and the older sister raised the boy. He entered the Military Academy on November 4, 1846 .

5. Fernando Montes de Oca

Fernando Montes de Oka was born in the city of Askapotsalko, the exact date of birth is unknown, somewhere between 1828 and 1832, in the family of Jose Montes de Oka and Josef Rodriguez. January 24, 1847 entered the Academy. The remaining inscription says: “Cadet Fernando Montes de Oka. He died heroically on September 13, 1847. He was on the roof of the school, which at that time was already captured by the Americans. So that the enemy didn’t get the banner, de Oka, wrapped himself in it, threw himself from the roof ” ^[5] .

6. Vicente Suarez

Vicente Suarez was born in the city of Puebla de Zaragoza in 1833 in the family of Miguel Suarez and Maria de la Luz Ortega. He entered the Academy on October 21, 1845 .

The remains of the heroes were kept in crystal vases at the Military Academy until 1952 , when they were solemnly transferred to special niches at the Monument to Heroes for Children, which was created by architect Enrique Echegaray and sculptor Ernesto Tamaris. A guard of honor is ^on display at the memorial ^[6] .

In 1947, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the taking of the castle and the erection of the monument, the memorial was visited by US President Harry Truman ^[7] .

•   Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hero Children (Mexico)
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• Consejo Superior de Investigaciones p. 269