César E. Chávez National Monument

What kind of festivities are you planning for this week? Even though we may be staying at home a little bit more, doesn't mean we can't celebrate! Dia De Los Muertos (English translation: Day of the Dead) is a Mexican celebration in which families gather together to honor the memory of their deceased loved ones on November 1 and 2. It is believed that the loved ones’ spirits are guided back home to enjoy offerings left for them on carefully crafted altars so this return is s...een as a time for joy rather than sadness. The altar is one of the most notable ways Day of the Dead is celebrated. An altar is made in honor of the deceased and can be displayed at a gravesite or in the home (or in our case, a visitor center). Offerings of food, beverages and items with special meaning are displayed. No two altars are there same, but traditionally they have symbols of the four elements of nature: water, wind, earth and fire. Over the next few days, we will be highlighting various parts of our altar to share a little about themstay tuned! Share pictures of your own altars in the comments below! Image description: A multi-tiered altar is overflowing with colorful decorations, pictures, memorabilia. Pictures of Helen Chavez , Cesar Chavez, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are among the pictures on the altar.

There is no substitute for hard work, 23 or 24 hours a day. And there is no substitute for patience and acceptance. Cesar Chavez Photo credit: Victor Aleman; courtesy of Cesar Chavez Foundation Image description: A black and white portrait of Cesar with his arms crossed shows him smiling. He wears a dark sweatshirt and has salt and pepper hair.

A beautiful view of a tree standing within view of our visitor center. This very special place was selected as a peaceful refuge for the farm worker leaders, members, and supporters, as well as a home for Cesar Chavez and his family. For the labor activists, La Paz became a symbol of the UFW’s future beyond California’s grape fields. Photo credit: Dr. Maria Sanelli, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. #ufw Image description: A picture of a tree with no leaves on a sunny day with a blue sky with some clouds. In the foreground is a dark hull obscuring the base of the tree and in the background are mountains.

Did you know that Cesar Chavez was actually a vegetarian? He had two dogs, Boycott and Huelga. Spending time with his doggos helped him realize that all animals deserve respect and have the right to live. He didn't impose this upon his family, but it was how he chose to be. Inside story: During one of Cesar's fasts (1988), one of his grandchildren and her husband were visiting him. They noticed a spider on the floor and the husband's first reaction was to kill it, but Cesar s...aid, "No, no, no! Get a piece of paper, pick it up, take it outside and let it go. He (the spider) has a right to live. He's not hurting anyone. " : Cathy Murphy/Getty Images Image description: A black and white photo of Cesar shows him sitting next to his dog and looking off camera. They are sitting outside on the grass and Cesar wears an older camera around his neck.

Cesar Chavez and Jim Camp (with cigar) of the S.A. Camp company sign a contract, June 16, 1970. (Photographer: Unknown June 16, 1970, Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University). Image description: A black and white photo shows Cesar writing on paper with two men on either side of him at a table. They all look like they are writing and two other men stand in back of them.

Planted throughout the Memorial Gardens are beds featuring different varieties of specialty roses, all created through a joint partnership between management and unionized rose workers at Jackson & Perkins, the nations largest producer of rose plants located not far away in Kern County. On either side of the gravesite are Cesar Chavez roses, flagrant deep red roses that bloom from April until October. Image description: A close-up of a red rose in full bloom is centered with green foliage around it.

Under the leadership of César E. Chávez and others such as Dolores Huerta and Larry Itliong, along with support from millions of Americans, the farm worker movement joined forces with other reform movements to achieve unprecedented successes that greatly improved working and living conditions and wages for farm workers. Feel free to visit the monument to learn about their struggles and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez. Image description: A close-up flag with the words 'Si se puede', 'Huelga', and 'Cesar Chavez' hangs outside of the white Visitor Center building. Cesar's face and part of the American flag is also on the flag.

Where do you get you most productive work done? This is where Cesar Chavez, the founder and president of the United Farm Workers of America, worked. His office is carefully preserved and can be seen in the monument's exhibit hall. #cesarchavez Cesar E. Chavez’ Office in the Visitor Center. (NPS photo/Ruben Andrade) Image description: A photo looks out from a desk with several piles of papers and books. In this office, there are shelves lines with books on the three walls in the frame and there are also a few awards and memorabilia sprinkled throughout.

Members of the farmworker movement were killed while participating in UFW organizing actions. The UFW recognizes five martyrs: Juan De La Cruz, Nagi Daifullah, Rufino Contreras, and Rene Lopez. All were farmworkers killed during strikes or union representation campaigns in California. Nan Freeman, a young college student and UFW supporter, was killed while helping farmworkers picket at a ranch in Florida. This photo show the memorial to the five martyrs representing three di...fferent religious groups. (Photo credit: Dr. Maria Sanelli, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania) Image description: A Cross sculpture, the Star of David sculpture, and a Crescent and Moon sculpture stand on a rocky outcrop in low light with a cloudy sky as the backdrop.

Never, never is it possible to reach someone if you become angry or bitter, only love and gentleness can do it. Cesar Chavez President of the United Farm Workers of America, Cesar Chavez thinks about an interviewer's question April 14, 1993 during a visit to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which merged with the United Farm Workers in 1966. Chavez died April 23, 1993. (Photo by Geoff Hansen- Getty Images) Image description: Cesar, with salt and pepper colored hair, looks down pensively with his hand on his chin. He also wears a very light blue collared shirt.

The Peace Garden, located west of Villa La Paz, to commemorate the four cultures that started the United Farm Worker’s Movement. The meandering rocklined paths lead the visitor to the commemorative obelisk that states, May peace prevail on Earth. This picture was taken on the property of our cooperating partner, National Chavez Center.#findyourpark #peace Image description: A thin wooden obelisk stands on a rock pedestal in bright outdoor light surrounded by dirt. There is a white Spanish-style building and hills in the background.

This short-handled hoe is setting on the shelf in Cesar Chavez’s office. Agricultural workers in the Southwest stooped over crops to use the hoe, often resulting in debilitating back pain for those workers. In the 1960s union organizers started to organize farm laborers improving working conditions and pay for agricultural laborers. In the 1970s the California Rural Legal Assistance successfully sued to have the short-handled hoe banned as an unsafe hand tool. (NPS photo/ R. Andrade) #Findyourpark #cesarchavez Image description: A short metal farming tool with a wooden handle rests on a shelf. It looks very worn, but may be still useable. There are assorted memorabilia on the shelf, as well.

Come visit us and view the Memorial Garden at the Cesar E Chavez National Historic Monument. Pictured below, near the grave marker of César and Helen Chávez, is a statue of St. Francis. #cesarchavez Image description: A beige statue of St. Francis looks out from a corner surrounded by a rounded white wall.