The cadets who defended the Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico City, on the 13th of September, 1847, were young heroes, later known as Los Niños Heroes. The event was extraordinary because as a military school, the castle was officially a non-combat area and many of the cadets who defended it were still mere children.
When the troops from the US, commanded by Winfield Scott, initiated the attack on the Castillo de Chapultepec, General Monteverde, director of the school, ordered all the students to go home to their families. The cadets flatly refused. Instead, they elected to defend their school, even knowing they may lose their lives in the process. Bravely, these youths faced death at enemy hands. For this, we consider them the most innocent of heroes; the purest examples of heroism in our history.
At this point, I must emphasize one important fact: although we only mention the most well-known of the cadets, all of those present deserve the same honors, whether they were murdered or taken prisoner, along with the School Principal, General Monteverde.
We honor these boys with their own day of honor (the 13th of September) and this verse of our National Anthem:
For you the garlands of olive,
a memory for them of glory,
a laurel for you of victory
and a tomb for them of honor.
CADET JUAN ESCUTIA (1827-1847) - Tepic, Nayarit
Escutia was posted as the tower watch when the school was invaded. He seized the flag to avoid its falling into enemy hands. Gravely wounded in the ensuing battle, he climbed the rampart and jumped to his death rather than be taken prisoner. The young man fell close to the place where the primary monument to these heroes is located. This young man was 20 years old when he died.
CADET VICENTE SUÁREZ (1830-1847)
Born in Puebla, he entered the Military College in 1845. When the invaders attacked the school, Suárez was a guard at the door, a duty for which he would not be relieved; he died at age 17, heroically guarding his post. His remains and those of his friends were honored in 1952 when, in crystal and silver urns, their ashes were placed at a monument erected to their memory.
CADET AGUSTÍN MELGAR ( 1829-1847)
A native of Chihuahua, Melgar entered the Military College in 1846. During the attack on the school, he defended the higher part of the castle. Receiving bullet and bayonet wounds, he was moved to the library where a surgeon amputated one leg in a desperate attempt to save his life. On the 15th of September, Augustin Melgar was found dead on the floor by the school Chaplin. At 20 years of age, he was left to bleed to death, when his peers were taken prisoner.
LIEUTENANT JUAN DE LA BARRERA (1827-1847)
Born in México City, he entered the Military College in 1841. After graduating as sub-lieutenant in artillery in 1843, he re-entered the school to continue his studies. In August of 1847, de la Barrera received the title of Lieutenant in the Engineering Regiment. When the school was attacked, he perished in battle. There is a commemorative plaque on the place where he fell.
CADET FERNANDO MONTES DE OCA (1829-1847) Azcapotzalco, DF
This Cadet entered the school in January of 1847. He fought bravely but was mortally wounded. His body, with all of the others, was claimed by the Chamberlain and laid to rest in a monument erected in their honor and placed outside the Castillo.
CADET FRANCISCO MÁRQUEZ (1834-1847)
Born in Guadalajara, he entered the Military College in January 1847 and was in the First Cadet Company. This youth of 13 fought valiantly, falling not far from the body of his friend, Juan Escutia, at the foot of the hill.
To those mentioned above and the other Niños who fought bravely and to the last, are true heroes. May They Rest In Peace And Glory...
