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SET THE STAGE FOR THE 36TH ANNUAL CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION IN DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE.
THE TRADITIONAL PARADE DOWN MAIN STREET INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS FROM THE GRAND PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, CINCO DE MAYO, OR MAY 5TH IS THE DATE OBSERVED EVERY YEAR TO COMMEMORATE THE UNLIKELY DEFEAT OF NAPOLEON'S FRENCH ARMY BY A SMALL GROUP OF YOUNG SOLDIERS FROM THE MEXICAN ARMY IN 1862.
IN THE US IT HAS EVOLVED INTO A COMMEMORATION OF MEXICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE, AND IN GRAND PRAIRIE IT'S ALSO BECOME A SYMBOL OF UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY ON FULL DISPLAY DURING THE PARADE, AND THEN AFTERWARD AT A FULL-BLOWN FIESTA IN CITY HALL PLAZA WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, DRINKS, GAMES, AND EXHIBITS.
SINCE 1987, GPS CINCO DE MAYO COMMITTEE HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE CITY ITS SCHOOLS, AND MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE CELEBRATION A SPECTACULAR AND MEMORABLE EVENT EVERY YEAR.
AND ANOTHER GREAT TRADITION THAT IS PART OF ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION IS THE AWARDING OF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO SEVERAL DESERVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY THE GRAND PRAIRIE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND EDUCATION, WHICH THIS YEAR AWARDED 20 STUDENTS A TOTAL OF $40,000.
IT'S TRULY A BLESSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MY POSITION, THAT ARE GOING TO COLLEGE STUDENT, DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FUNDS TO, UH, BE ABLE TO COVER THE TUITION OR ROOM AND DORM AND, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO IT'S TRULY A BLESSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
CINCO DE MAYO HAS AWARDED CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS IN 36 YEARS, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE STARTED OUT WITH A PARADE AROUND THE BLOCK, AND NOW IT'S A TWO HOUR PARADE.
I MEAN, LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE DAY IS, THE COSTUMES, THE MUSIC, THE CULTURE TRADITIONS.