November 2015

Presidents Message

Dear Members,

Thanks again, to all our volunteers, donors and staff. I welcome our new Museum Director, Cathe Apo-daca. Her first day will be on Sunday, November 1st. Her expertise in our history and experience will be a great addition to the staff. Pilar Munoz will remain as the Assistant Director. The 2015 Founders Luncheon was a great success, Thank You to the entire committee or their hard work. Thank you to the District Art-ists that donated their work for the first annual silent auction: Arturo Avalos, Rob Mack, Dalia Ortega, Bert Saldana, Manny Alvarado, Alex Montero, Joe Arroyos and myself. I look forward to seeing all of you at the 2015 Luminaria Festival and Posadas Celebration on Saturday, December 19th. The festivities will start at 5 pm. We do need volunteers, so if you have some extra time to fold bags prior to the event, please stop by and pick up a few bundles. Any help is welcome. Also, don't miss the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 4th at 6:30 pm, by the jail, followed by a two-day ChristKindle Holiday Market. We have reduced the price of SEGHS T-shirts to $12, sizes small to 2XL. This would make a good Christ-mas present. We also sell church prints, ornaments, hand-made marble crosses, books and other items.

We look forward to continuing our efforts of preservation, promotion and support of the San Elizario Histor-ic District and El Paso County and the City of San Elizario Community. Your participation is essential to the success of our activities. Be it as a volunteer, as a contributor, as an attendant or as a promoter. Con-tact me if you have any questions. This is not an election year, but the President's position is open for a half term. If you are interested in serving or have any questions, please let us know as soon as possible. We will need to fill the position before the end of the year.

~ Al Borrego,

President

Veterans Talk

The Historic town of San Elizario will be hosting its 19th Annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, on

Saturday, November 7, 2015. The parade will start at 9:00 am at Thompson Rd and Socorro Rd, travel east on Socorro Rd, on to Main Street, to Alarcon Rd and ending at Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of the San Elceario Chapel. The Ceremonies will continue at Veterans Memorial Plaza at about 10:30 am. Presentation of the Colors, playing of the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance will be conducted. Special guests, dignitaries along with our 2015 San Elizario Grand Marshal, Melanie Martinez, will be introduced. A candle lighting, POW-MIA and Flag folding ceremony will be observed. Five veterans, Isabel Soto-Alvidrez, Mike N. Borrego, Jose A. Maese, Abraham J. Grijalva, and Armando F. Parra, all having ties/roots to San Elizario, will be honored for their military service, and each will receive patriotic presentations. The Veterans Committee of the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society, cordially invites everyone to attend the parade and ceremony. Bring your families, neighbors, friends and cameras, and enjoy the day celebrating and honoring all veterans. While in San Eli, visit our Presidio Chapel, the Portales Museum and Tourist Center, the Veterans Museum, the Veterans Memorial Brick Walk, the Old County Jail, and the World Famous Art Galleries that make up the Art District; everything within walking distance. For infor-mation, contact Ray Borrego, Chair, San Elizario Veterans Committee, at (915)383-8529. Visit our website at www.sanelizariogenealogy.com. “

Ray Borrego, Chair - San Elizario Veterans Committee of SEGHS • 915 383-8529 •

E-mail: rayborrego99@msn.com

Website: http://www.sanelizariogenealogy.com

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SEGHS November Newsletter Page 3

The Soldiers of San Elizario by Sam Sanchez

In 1957, while stationed at the Marine Corps barracks in Quantico, Virginia I had the opportunity to visit important Historical sites around Washington D.C. Located on a peaceful hillside not far from our nation’s capitol stands our national monument to the memory “of the unknown soldier.” This monument serves to remind the people of our country that our na-tion has been involved in four major wars during this century alone. As one stands before this monument, silently whispering a prayer for all of those valiant men and women who died in war, you suddenly realize that this monument is not only in memory of our dead, but also of the living. In reality, every soldier is “an unknown soldier.” In truth, wars are fought by millions of faceless men and women who are dedicated to the service of our country. Every year, our country deserves “Veteran’s Day,” inviting her citizens to honor those who served their country and the cause of peace as members of the Armed Forces of the United States. War is not beauti-ful! In war there are no winners. The truth of the matter is that everyone loses. The only positive gain is a truce, a peace which all hope and will at last be permanent. Once again, San Elizario’s Veteran’s are honored with a parade and festivities at the “Veteran’s Day Cele-bration and to thank our Veteran’s for their service to our country. While in San Elizario, visit the Eduardo M. Pedregon Veteran’s Museum and the Los Portales Historical Museum.

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Octaviano Larrazolo This gentleman is very important to the history of San Elizario. He was born in 1859, in El Valle de Allen-de, México. At the age of ten he was brought to the United States by Bishop Jean Salpoint. The bishop sent him to be educated in Santa Fe, New Mexico. San Elizario had the first registered public school sys-

tem in west Texas. Larrazolo became San Elizario’s first school teacher and principal for six years. After relocating to Las Vegas, New Mexico, he was elected Governor of New Mexico in November of 1918, for a two year term. In 1928, he was elected to an unexpired U.S. Senate term. This makes him the only Mexican-born New Mexico Governor, U.S. Senator and theonly New Mexican to be elected to both the Governor-ship and U.S. Senate.

George Sanchez & Maria del Pilar Munoz

November Newsletter Page 4

Founders Luncheon Descendants of San Elizario families gathered on Sunday, September 27 at Alarcon Ele-mentary School to celebrate the 24

th Annual Founders Luncheon.

Over 100 guests ate a fajita lunch catered by Tony’s Catering while they listened to the music of Tito Lujan y Los Alegres del Valle. The tables were decorated with miniature cactus centerpieces donated by Becky Romero. Ronald Bowling gave a lively overview of the Bowling-Madrid family tree. Dr. Robert Skaggs and John Palafox presented a short history of the Montes-Skaggs family. Dr. Skaggs left copies of the presentation at Los Portales for anyone who is tracing that fam-ily line. Mistress of Ceremonies Patricia Macias and Hilda Rojas distributed a large number of door prizes that had been donated by SEGHS members. Winners of the drawing were Elisa Contreras, first prize; Ralph Aranda, second prize and Eva Crucian, third prize. The first prize drawing was a framed painting of the San Elizario Chapel painted by Elizabeth Teran, second prize was a basket of San Elizario items from our gift shop and third prize was an autumn wreath donated by Kila Sanchez. Our newest feature was a silent auc-tion coordinated by SEGHS President Al Borrego. Guests were able to bid on eleven dif-ferent auction items donated by artists from the San Elizario Historic District. Committee members who helped with the luncheon included Aurora Bustos, Transito Macias, Emily Borrego, Mary Lou Borrego, Ruth Vasquez, Kila Sanchez and Magda Flores.

Submitted by Magda Flores

Our Condolences

We would like to welcome our Newest Members: Laura Mata Brito • Antonio Efren Rios

John Palafox • Corine M. Perez

Eduardo A. Endlich Villegas

Prayers For The ILL

Celebrations– We send our best wishes to Josefina Grijalva De La Cruz who celebrated her 91

st birthday

on Saturday, October 24, serenaded with her favorite songs by mariachis and musical group Orgullo del Valle.

In Memoriam – We join the following families in mourning the loss of their loved ones:

Dolores (Lola) Berru Fresquez, longtime member of SEGHS, passed away on Sep-tember 10

th in Ysleta. She is survived by; four daughters; 10 grandchildren and 10

great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vidal and son Vidal Jr. Dolores was the daughter of Maria Gandara Berru and Vidal Berru and grand-daughter of Doña Concha Garcia Berru of the prominent pioneer Garcia family of San Elizario.

Reymundo F. "Ray" Gonzalez, a San Elizario native who was well known in the community, died on September 8, 2015. Ray was the brother of Beto and Pina Gonza-lez.

Samuel Grijalva Guerra, brother of members Elisa Contreras and Elvira Montes, passed away August 15

th in San Jose, California. Samuel was born and raised in San

Elizario.

Dolores Berru Fresquez Reymundo F. Gonzalez Samuel Grijalva Guerra

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SEGHS November Newsletter Page 6

NEW MEMBERS

Martha Garcia George Hevner

Mike & Teresa Teran Arnulfo Vasquez

From Around The State

Austin: News from Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin Corpus Christi: News from Spanish American Genealogical Association (SAGA) Harlingen: News from Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society Houston: News from Hispanic Genealogy Society of Houston Laredo: News from Villa De San Agustin - Laredo Genealogy Society San Antonio: News from Los Bexareños Genealogical And Historical Society Victoria: News from Victoria Hispanic Genealogical & Historical Society of Texas

This Section is dedicated to our sister Hispanic Genealogy Societies throughout the state. Thank You, LBGHS for providing the information

Other Genealogy News

Albuquerque: News From Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico

Albuquerque: News From New Mexico Genealogical Society

Pueblo: News From Genealogical Society of Hispanic America

St. Louis News From Center for French Colonial Studies

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SEGHS November Newsletter Page 7

The San Elizario Genealogy and Histori-cal Society opens the museum daily, Tuesday through Sunday, to the general public and admission is free. The museum is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers that will offer additional information to visi-tors. The Pistoleros de San Elizario Reenact-ment troupe performs two free shows of the ‘Billy the Kid Breakout' every third Sunday of the month, March through No-vember, in front of the Jail.

Old El Paso County Jail Museum 1551 Main Street • San Elizario, Texas 79849 915-851-0093 / 915-851-1682

Regular Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am - 2pm • Saturday: 10am - 4pm Sunday: 12pm - 4pm • Open during spe-

San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1090 San Elizario, Texas 79849

Physical Address: 1521 San Elizario Rd. San Elizario, Texas Phone #: 915-851-1682 • Fax #: 915-851-0045

Email: sanelizario@sbcglobal.net • www.SanElizarioGenealogy.com