Source: Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia
On Saturday, July 13, the 97th Commemorative Ceremony in honor of Mexican aviator Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez took place at the Emilio Carranza Memorial located in Wharton State Forest, New Jersey.
The ceremony is an initiative of Mount Holly Post 11 of the American Legion in New Jersey, in collaboration with the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia, aiming to keep alive the memory of Captain Carranza and his historic Goodwill Flight between Mexico and the United States in 1928.
Captain Carranza, originally from Coahuila, Mexico, departed the morning of June 11, 1928, from Mexico City intending to make a direct flight to Washington, D.C. aboard his plane “Mexico-Excelsior.”
Weather conditions forced the pilot to make an emergency landing on June 12, 1928, in Mooresville, North Carolina. However, that same day, Captain Carranza resumed his journey and managed to land hours later in the U.S. capital.
The flight was widely recognized, leading to various dinners and receptions in honor of the Mexican pilot, including one hosted by the President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, at the White House.
Subsequently, Captain Carranza flew from Washington, D.C. to Detroit accompanied by Charles A. Lindbergh, and then proceeded to New York, from where his return to Mexico was scheduled.
On July 2, the Mexican pilot was ready to depart, but weather conditions forced him to cancel his flight. On July 12, once again, the pilot had to cancel his flight due to bad weather. However, that same night, following the instructions of his military superiors who demanded his return to Mexico, Captain Carranza took off at 7:18 p.m. amidst a storm.
The next day, July 13, 1928, the world learned that Captain Carranza had died after the “Mexico Excelsior” crashed in New Jersey due to bad weather.
For his bravery, courage, and as a pioneer of non-stop and long-distance flights, Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez is known as the Mexican Charles Lindbergh.
The commemorative ceremony was attended by Eng. Venustiano Carranza, Captain Carranza’s second cousin and grandson of former Mexican President Venustiano Carranza, members of the American Legion in New Jersey, representatives from the Consulates of Mexico in Philadelphia, New York, and New Brunswick, as well as members of the Mexican community in the region.
During the ceremony, the Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia, Carlos G. Obrador Garrido Cuesta, laid a wreath at the memorial to Captain Emilio Carranza and delivered remarks in front of more than 100 people, mentioning that the young pilot’s Goodwill Flight marked a milestone symbolizing the friendship and collaboration between Mexico and the United States. He also expressed his appreciation to the American Legion in New Jersey for their efforts to keep the memory of the Mexican pilot alive.
“This ceremony is a symbol of the unbreakable bonds of friendship that unite the United States with Mexico,” said Consul Carlos Obrador. “For nearly a century, it has also been an opportunity to promote brotherhood between the military and aeronautical communities of the region and our country.”
The Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia recognizes the commitment and example of Mount Holly Post 11 of the American Legion in southern New Jersey to keep the shared history between these two nations alive.
