On September 15, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a village priest in the town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico, declared that Mexico should be free of Spanish rule and initiated the struggle for independence that finally freed Mexico of Spanish rule. This call to arms, known in Mexico as “El Grito de Dolores” (The Cry of Dolores) or “El Grito de Independencia,” (The Cry for Independence) has been celebrated ever since on September 16th as Mexican Independence Day. While in Mexico the celebrations often include fireworks, in many Mexican American communities the the United States the celebration often includes a 16th of September Parade. Such is the case in this Moment in Time photo taken on September 16th, 1961. Oh, and that tall, skinny kid on the back of the float is none other than a young actor/playwright, Dan Guerrero.