Parade marks century of New Mexico history

By Lauren E. Toney For the Sun-News

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Luis Rigales, a cancer survivor, is driven in a red Z28 Chevy Camero with Relay for Life participants following him Saturday during the Centennial Parade on North Church Street.

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LAS CRUCES - Spectators watched the journey of New Mexico's century-long history unfold Saturday during the Mesilla Valley Centennial Parade through downtown Las Cruces.

"The parade told an incredible story from beginning to end, from pre-statehood to Spaceport America," said Dolores Archuleta, chairwoman of the parade subcommittee. "It showed where we came from and where we're going."

The two-mile parade, which lasted about two hours, devoted time to each decade of New Mexico's history, from 1912 to present day, commemorating 100 years of statehood with classic vehicles and equipment, representations of historical figures and events, people born and groups formed in each decade.

Traveling through historic parts of downtown Las Cruces in the Centennial Parade were about 140 entries, including floats, musical groups, military and law enforcement groups, participants dressed in period costumes and classic vehicles, tractors, a chuck wagon and stagecoaches pulled by horses.

From the Loretto Town Center, where the parade began and commenced, and along Church and Water streets, spectators packed sidewalks to watch the state's history pass by, decade by decade.

Organizers reported large crowds of spectators watching the parade all along its route.

"The parade moved (spectators) through time," said Las Cruces City

Councilman Greg Smith, who also serves at the chairman of the Mesilla Valley Centennial Planning Committee. "Segmenting the flow of the parade into decades helped put everything into context and made it easier to experience and learn about the history."

The parade was lead by actor Dale Liikala, who served as its grand marshal and was dressed to portray President William H. Taft. Liikala was joined by Las Crucen Judy Roscoe, who portrayed first lady Nellie Taft. The parade concluded with an entry from Spaceport America, Archuleta pointed out.

Noting parade entries from the Piro-Manso-Tiwa Tribe of Guadalupe Pueblo, Tortugas Pueblo and several local elementary, middle and high schools, Smith said the most important accomplishment of the Centennial Parade is sparking curiosity in New Mexico's history among spectators and participants.

"The fact that people are getting curious about the history of our state and thinking, 'Wow, that (parade entry) was really interesting and I'd like to learn a little bit more about that,' is the greatest accomplishment," he said.

Although the focus of the parade was on the past 100 years of New Mexico's statehood, Smith said he hoped the event also made residents think about the future of Las Cruces.

"I believe 2012 is going to be Las Cruces' year," he said. "There are so many important things that are about to unfold in our city - with the spaceport, transportation, and the new Centennial High School. It's an exciting time to live in Las Cruces."

Following about two years of planning for Saturday's parade, Archuleta said, "It was the community as a whole that came together to make it a success and the community that deserves the credit."

Calling the parade an overwhelming success, she continued, "The reaction of everyone I spoke with was that they had never before seen a parade like this. It was incredible to be able to celebrate our centennial with this parade."

Archuleta also noted the many schools and children involved in the event.

"I wanted there to be a lot of children participating and was pleased to see so many throughout the parade," she said. "I think if you're involved in something like this, you remember it forever and it was a great learning opportunity for those young people who participated."

Other participants included special guest Alvina Hallie, who was born in 1912 and who shared, along with her family and Liikala as the 47th president and Roscoe as first lady Taft, a 100-piece birthday cake.

"It was neat to see so many local schools get involved in the parade," said Xavier Malone, 24. The native Las Crucen watched the parade travel down North Water Street on Saturday afternoon with his girlfriend Samantha Padilla, 24, and sister Damariz Lopez, 7, also of Las Cruces.

"I got to see my teacher in the parade," Lopez, a second-grade student at Booker T. Washington School said excitedly. "It was really neat."

Padilla said she enjoyed watching the state and local history unfold right in front of her throughout the parade. "I especially liked seeing all of the old tractors and cars. It was really cool to see all the history."

Members of community organizations also donned period costumes to become pioneers, 1920s flappers, 1950s girls in poodle skirts and cat eye glasses, to the extreme hair and shoulder pads of the 1980s worn by those parade participants who danced along to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Members of the neighborhood organization, Las Esperanzas, Inc., also remembered the history of their own families as they paraded through downtown Las Cruces with a stagecoach.

Faith Hutson, a board member, and her mother Wilma Hutson, a member of the organization, both donned attire handmade by a relative in the early 1900s.

"My grandmother made this herself when she was living in a small German settlement in Russia before 1911," Wilma said, gesturing to her carefully-crafted dress. "I believe she was the only person in the village with a sewing machine back then."

Because the parade was held on Saturday when the Farmer's and Crafts Market takes place, Smith said organizers were pleased that visitors to the market were able to watch the parade after shopping and parade spectators had the opportunity to attend the city's popular market, some for the first time.

"We wanted to ensure that people had the opportunity to experience both events," he said.

There are still upcoming events celebrating New Mexico's Centennial, Smith said, including the beginning of the statewide traveling exhibit, 100 Years of New Mexico Art in February, Centennial Choral Celebration in June, dedication of Centennial High School in August, reopening of Downtown Main Street in September and the opening of Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science in November.

For more information on the Centennial Celebration and other events, visit www.mvcentennial.org.

Lauren E. Toney can be reached at lauren.toney@gmail.com.

NM CENTENNIAL PARADE

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REACTION TO THE PARADE

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Source: http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_19698675?source=rss_viewed

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