Carranza Memorial
Posted by: 
chstress53
N 39° 46.633 W 074° 37.950
18S E 531471 N 4403095
Aviator captain Emilio Carranza, inspired by the transatlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh and looking to bring a similar national accomplishment to his homeland of Mexico, had a plan. He planned to fly nonstop from New York to Mexico City.
Waymark Code: WM1JG
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 09/17/2005
Views: 111
On July 12, 1928, the whole world held their breath as Emilio began his epic journey from an airfield in New York. A couple of hours later he was crashing in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. His body was found the next day by a man picking blueberries. Some say that a flashlight was clutched in Emilio's hand, "like he was looking for a clear place to land."
The monument marks the spot where he was found. It was paid for by the school children of Mexico. Planted around it are scrawny yucca plants, no bigger than broken beer bottles, stunted by cold New Jersey winters. At most times it is a lonely place.
But every year, at 1:00 P.M. on the Saturday closest to July 12th, American Legion Post 11 trudges out to the monument and has a little ceremony for Emilio, perhaps the most unsung (at least in English) of all Sky Kings.
http://www.post11.org/carranza/carranza8e.html
