SALINAS – Two Monterey County Supervisors will be conducting a special honoring of living Monterey County Bracero workers in the first Bracero History Recognition Week during a ceremony this month.
Supervisor and Board Chair Luis Alejo, along with Supervisor Chris Lopez, will conduct the event at 10:30 a.m. at the Sept. 12 Supervisors meeting at 168 Alisal St.
“Many of (our) fathers and grandfathers were Bracero workers who came during a critical time in our nation’s history to provide labor in the agriculture or railroad industries,” said Alejo in a press release. “But their sacrifice and legacy has never been officially recognized by the County of Monterey. It’s now time that we honor them.”
Alejo added that Bracero workers laid the foundation for families to settle here and have better opportunities.
“I invite living Bracero workers who reside in Monterey County to contact my office to receive a special proclamation during the ceremony,” said Alejo.
The Bracero Program operated between 1942 and 1964 bringing millions of Mexican workers to provide labor in the agriculture and railroad industries, many of whom came to the Salinas and Pajaro valleys. Those original Bracero workers laid the foundation for thousands of Latino families in Monterey County today.
Both Supervisor Alejo and Supervisor Lopez’s late grandfathers were Bracero workers.
The ceremony will also remember the 60th Anniversary of the Chualar Bracero Tragedy of Sept. 17, 1963, where 32 Bracero workers were killed in a collision with a train and 25 other workers were severely injured in the makeshift “bus” crash. At the time, the California Highway Patrol deemed the tragedy as “the biggest single fatal vehicle accident in the history of California” and was a determining factor in the decision by Congress to terminate the program in 1964, according to Alejo.
To honor individuals who worked in the Bracero Program, Alejo and Lopez are looking to present living original Bracero workers who reside Monterey County with their own framed special proclamation highlighting their sacrifices and contributions to the Salinas Valley and agricultural industry as an Original Bracero Worker of Monterey County.
Anyone who may be interested in receiving a recognition, and participating in the special honoring ceremony is asked to contact Alejo’s office at 831-755-5011 or via email at [email protected], to receive a special recognition.
Denial of responsibility! My Droll is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
