Aurora to host its first Mexican Flag Raising Ceremony to honor start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mexican Independence Day
The state's second-largest city will kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month with a first-of-its-kind event as a sign of respect to Aurora's large Mexican community.
On Thursday, Sept. 16, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin will be joined on Mexican Independence Day by Aurora Alderwoman Juany Garza, Alderman Emmanuel Llamas, and Deputy Mayor Guillermo Trujillo - all three of whom are Mexican American - to host the first Mexican Flag Raising Ceremony in the city.
The special ceremony will be held at Noon at One Aurora Plaza at North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd. in the heart of downtown Aurora. The Mexican flag will be raised on a separate staff next a staff with the American Flag.
The ceremony will include brief remarks by Mayor Irvin and the three highest-ranking Latinx dignitaries in city government. All of them believe the flag-raising ceremony highlights the city's commitment to and collaboration with the Latinx community.
Garza is an entrepreneur who has been the Alderwoman for Aurora's predominantly Latinx Ward 2 for 16 years. She founded the Aurora Hispanic Pioneers Council, which honors members of the Latinx community who paved the way for others.
Born and raised in the same Ward 1 that he now leads, Llamas is the youngest alderman elected to serve on the Aurora City Council. He was voted into office in 2019 at the age of 32. He's a graduate of East Aurora High School and an attorney with his private practice firm.
Trujillo is the city's first Latino Deputy Mayor. As a child, he emigrated from Mexico, graduated from East Aurora High School, and served for 30 years as an investigator with the Aurora Police Department. He came out of retirement to serve as Deputy Mayor.
Before the flag, attendees will be delighted by a special performance by 9-year-old Ryan Cornejo, a young Mariachi entertainer who travels through the Chicagoland area entertaining audiences large and small.
The Mexican Flag Raising Ceremony is one event in the city's monthlong series of more than one dozen events called Aurora Avanzando (Aurora Forward) scheduled for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Mayor Irvin last night issued a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month at Aurora City Council. In addition, Alderwoman Garza today hosted the 16th annual Hispanic Pioneers Breakfast to honor leaders in the community and to provide scholarships for Aurora youth.
A full list of "Aurora Avenzando" events can be found www.aurora-il.org/AuroraAvanzando.