Woman named president of Republic of Rio Grande

Laredo Morning Times | 4/18/04 | Mayra Flores

[SwinneySwitch]

San Agustin Plaza was brought to life with a historical first during the 164th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of the Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon.

The first?

It was the first woman named president of the Republic of the Rio Grande Webb County Commissioner Judith G. Gutierrez.

She was recognized for her service to the community and her “hands-on approach” to the many colonia issues.

The swearing-in ceremony consisted of a musket salute and the raising of the Republic of the Rio Grande flag.

The event, sponsored by the Laredo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, also featured a set of historical re-enactments depicting the rich history of the city.

The reenactment spotlighted the founding of Laredo (1755), the Civil War-era Battle of Laredo (1864) and the Election Riot between rival political parties, the Botas and the Guaraches (1886), staged by professional re-enactors armed with authentic period costumes and armaments.

[SwinneySwitch]

http://atlasgeo.span.ch/fotw/flags/us_reprg.html

[baltodog]

I remember a story about a guy named George Zipper leading an airborne attack on Macho Grande...

[Verginius Rufus]

Ah yes, George Zipper...German inventor of the Reisverschluss, forced to flee his native land because of the button-makers' cartel...came to America where people called his invention by his surname. Ronald Reagan starred in the movie about his life, Win One for the Zipper.