Last Friday was Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May. It is a big holiday in Mexico and therefore important to people of hispanic origin. The day is important because on that day 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City in 1862.

Cinco de Mayo was the day that my Leadership Merced class chose to have its project fundraiser. Each class has to complete a project that assists the city or county in some way. We decided that we wanted to help the G.R.E.A.T. Program with a large financial donation, and May 5 was the catalyst for our fundraiser.

The final numbers haven’t come in yet, but I think we made a lot of money for GREAT. It will help the program to educate lots more children about the dangers of gangs, as well as the beauty and opportunity of education. I have to say that I felt unusual pride in what we accomplished on Cinco de Mayo. Lots of people came. Everyone was smiling, and they were glad to spend their money to help us help our youth.

This time, instead of defeating the French a blow was struck at gangs and the destruction they bring. That’s a good thing.