Battle of San Jacinto, Nicaragua September 14th

The month of September could be called Independence Month in Nicaragua.  Several different events have taken place during the month, from Christopher Columbus discovering the area to the actual independence of the country and regian from Spain to what I am going to focus on today, the Battle of San Jacinto in 1956.

The battle took place a few years after the independence from Spain while the region was trying to stabilise itself and find it's place.  There where two opposing factions one of which hired an army from the north to fight it's battles for them.  Unfortunately, the army commander, William Walker, decided he wanted to take over and turn the area over to the United States.  The factions who had split apart to fight with each other came together over this and on September 14th out numbered and lacking in adequate equipment the people who would soon be truly Nicaraguans defeated William Walker's army through ingenuity and bravery.  This all happened on the day before Independence Day through out the region.

Today the 14th is celebrated with parades formed from the students, police and army, with the students making up the majority of the participants and many of them in fancy dress and traditional clothes.  The president gives out the Presidental Medal to the top students and teachers.  Of course the national flag is hung through out the country and in every house.  This is a time of year to be very proud of the country they are and be patriotic and that is just what they do.

Links: 

http://www.answers.com/topic/nicaragua-battle-of-san-jacinto-day-event

http://vianica.com/go/specials/5-independence_Nicaragua.html