PETRO MONTHLY
MAY 2018
FROM THE DESK OF Mark Petro
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there, especially my sweet mother, Alice Petro! How she managed to keep her sanity after raising five children (I’m the baby) is amazing. This May is a big graduation month for my family. My oldest daughter, Carlee, graduates from Birmingham Southern College, and my youngest daughter, Allee, graduates from Mountain Brook High School. Carlee plays tennis for Birmingham Southern and will continue in tennis as a tennis coach. Allee will be enrolling at Ole Miss in August. I am very proud of both of them and all their hard work! In this month’s newsletter, I would like to give a special shoutout to another May graduate, Emily Schreiber. Emily will graduate in May from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in the top of her class. I have been fortunate to know this amazing person since she was a small child. In 2003, at age 9, Emily was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which is a chronic congenital disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Emily is an avid swimmer, and just six weeks after her diagnosis, she put together her first CF fundraiser. People pledged dollar amounts for each lap that she swam. This was the beginning of Emily’s charitable organization, Laps for CF. Laps for CF is dedicated to raising awareness for cystic fibrosis and providing financial support in all areas of need for CF treatment, research, care, and improved quality of life. To date, Emily has raised over $2 million to support the fight against CF. I have had the privilege of serving on the board of directors for Emily’s Laps for CF. I’m very proud of Emily and all the incredible things she has accomplished! Thank you to all my clients who have referred family and friends to my office and have left kind reviews on social media. Referrals and positive reviews are the greatest compliment an attorney can receive. I appreciate all of my clients. Thank you for allowing me to help you!
CINCODEMAYO T he H istory B ehind the C elebrations
Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are perhaps the most widely observed holidays this month. Cinco de Mayo celebrations are less common and often confined to bars and restaurants, which entice customers with specials on margaritas and Mexican cuisine that day. But Cinco de Mayo is much more than an excuse to have a few drinks — it’s a holiday steeped in culture, tradition, and national pride. When we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate the spirit and heritage of Mexico. THE MYTH BEHIND THE HOLIDAY Many people believe that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in honor of Mexican Independence Day, but that isn’t the case. Mexico declared its independence on Sept. 16, 1810, 50 years before the event that lead to the celebration of Cinco de Mayo — the Battle of Puebla. In 1861, Benito Juárez, the president of Mexico at the time, declared that the country was far too poor to pay its debts to France, Spain, and England. While Spain and England reached an agreement with the country, France invaded to claim Mexico as a territory. French troops fanned out across the country, claiming city after city, until May 5, 1862, when they reached the small town of Puebla. As the troops advanced toward the town, they were met by a group of Mexican soldiers. The fight lasted nearly three hours, and despite the odds being 2-1 against them, the small Mexican army won the battle. France lost nearly 500 troops, while Mexico lost less than 100.
–Mark Petro
This didn’t stop the French from taking Mexico City and gaining control over the country in 1863. But the victory gave the Mexican people a sense
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