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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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of pride and served as a symbol of defiance against French imperialism.
TRANSITION INTO THE STATES After the United States helped push the French out of Mexico, restoring Juárez back to power, the celebration of Puebla, or Cinco de Mayo, spread into the states. People of Mexican heritage who were living in the United States saw the victory as a source of pride and strength. During the Civil War, they used it as inspiration to fight Today, the holiday is celebrated largely in the United States and Puebla, but not throughout the rest of Mexico. People living in Mexico believe that celebrating Mexican Independence Day in September is a better way to express their patriotism. CELEBRATIONS Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted and celebrated throughout the United States as an appreciation of Mexican culture and heritage. After the battle, word of
the victory spread throughout the states. Today, huge celebrations take place in some of the larger cities in the U.S., including Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and New York City. These might include parades, dancing, and large amounts of food and alcohol. ABC News states that in 2013, 30.6 million cases of beer and 87.3 million pounds of avocados were sold during the week of Cinco de
Mayo. This created a revenue of $658 million for the alcohol alone and 349 million servings of guacamole. Learning about the past and why certain holidays are celebrated encourages and inspires people to celebrate. This year, celebrate Cinco de Mayo with newfound knowledge and understanding.
Mothers Shape theWorld
3 of History’s Bravest Moms
IRENA SENDLER (1910–2008)
Moms make the world go round. After running the gauntlet of childbirth, they raise and guide us throughout our lives, shouldering the tremendous burden and responsibility of motherhood. Mothers are in turn formidable, kind, powerful, gentle, wise, fierce, patient, supportive, empathetic, driven, and full of love. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are three historic moms who never stopped fighting for what they believed in.
When the Nazis invadedWarsaw in September of 1939, Irena Sendler, a 29-year-old social worker andmother of two, hatched a scheme to rescue Jewish children from the brutal ghettos. Along withmany friends and colleagues, she smuggled out nearly 2,500 Jewish orphans, hiding infants on trams and garbage wagons and guiding kids through a labyrinth of secret passageways beneath the city.
SOJOURNER TRUTH (1797–1883)
Before she escaped fromNewYork slaveholder John Dumont, Sojourner Truth had at least three of her children sold away fromher. When Dumont went back on his promise to emancipate Truth and her infant daughter in 1826, she took the girl and fled to an abolitionist Quaker family, but she was forced to
EMMELINE PANKHURST (1858–1928)
Despite being a wife and the mother of five children — two of whomdied tragically young—Emmeline Pankhurst became one of the fiercest advocates for women’s suffrage in the late 19th century. After founding theWomen’s Social and Political Union in 1903, she and her cohorts adopted an aggressive strategy to raise awareness for the issue; they began by
leave her other daughter and her 5-year-old son, Peter, behind. Soon after, she learned that Peter had been illegally sold by Dumont to a slaveholder in Alabama, so she went to court and secured his safe return. It was the first successful case brought by a black woman against a white man in American history. Truth went on to become a prominent abolitionist and a speaker for women’s rights, delivering her famous impromptu speech, “Ain’t I aWoman?”in May of 1851.
buttonholing politicians and staging rallies, then progressed to vandalism, window smashing, and arson. She was instrumental in the movement. Pankhurst lived to see women gain the right to vote in 1928.
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Sprained Your Ankle? PHYSICAL THERAPY CANHELP
Have you ever injured your ankle by doing something simple, like stepping off a curb or kicking a soccer ball? Don’t be discouraged. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries people face, and they can happen anytime and anywhere. There’s a good reason why ankle sprains are so common. You might not consciously think about something as simple as standing or walking — these motions are second nature to most of us. But when you really think about it, your ankle supports most of your weight, which is why injuring it is so commonplace. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, 23,000 people in the United States will suffer from a sprained ankle, and 45 percent of that number are sports-related injuries. What you might not realize is that once you’ve injured your ankle, there’s a good chance that you could injure yourself again. This is what physical therapists strive to help you prevent. Their goal is not only to work with your ankle after the injury to get it back to normal, but also to strengthen the muscles around it to avoid future injuries. The rehabilitation process should be taken at a slow and careful pace, one that you’re comfortable with and that won’t push you beyond your physical capabilities. Your physical therapist will work with you
to stretch and strengthen your ankle with a number of exercises, beginning with resistance exercises and eventually progressing to weight-bearing exercises. Keeping an open line of communication with your doctor and physical therapist will help you toward a speedy recovery. Ankle injuries can be tough to get through, but if you work with the professionals and take things slow and steady, you’ll be back up on your feet in no time.
GRILLED SKIRT STEAK
“I was referred by a friend to Petro Law Firm after being injured in a car wreck. I cannot say enough about Client Testimonials
With Asparagus
Inspired by Food Network
Asparagus and steak is a classic pairing. Skirt steak packs a ton of flavor without the high price point of other cuts, and this is the best time of year to buy asparagus. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get grilling!
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds skirt steak 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 pound asparagus 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste Grated pecorino Romano cheese
Mark and the way he handled my case. He was always there when I had questions, and I was very pleased with the settlement he got for me. If I ever need have need of a lawyer again, I wouldn’t second-guess consulting with him.” –Clint H.
Directions
1. Heat grill to high. Season room-temperature steak with salt, pepper, and 1
per side, depending on desired doneness. Skirt steak is thin and will cook quickly.
tablespoon oil. Any oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, will work.
4. Let steak rest for 10
minutes. While it’s resting, grill asparagus for 6 minutes, turning once. 5. Sprinkle cheese and crushed red pepper on asparagus. Serve alongside steak.
2. Trim bottom inch of
asparagus. Season with salt, pepper, and remainder of oil. 3. Cut steak into four portions and grill for 3–5 minutes
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Mark PAGE 1 The History and Celebrations of Cinco de Mayo PAGE 1 3 of the Most Formidable Moms in History PAGE 2 How to Handle a Common Injury PAGE 3 What Our Clients are Saying PAGE 3 Grilled Skirt Steak With Asparagus PAGE 3 Gear Up for Grilling Season PAGE 4
Get Your Grill On 2 MAY HOLIDAYS, 2 REASONS TO GRILL
THE CLASSIC BURGER Nothing beats the American classic: a seasoned beef patty, a slice of cheddar cheese, a squirt each of mustard and ketchup, a layer of crunchy lettuce, some thinly sliced onions, and a couple of zesty pickles. For a homemade touch, make the pickles yourself by soaking cucumbers in a brine of vinegar, dill, and salt. THE MEDITERRANEAN BURGER Take your patty to the next level with a Mediterranean twist. Mix feta cheese and garlic into your ground beef before forming your patties. Serve it on a grilled ciabatta bun topped with marinated red peppers and arugula for flavor and texture. If you want to get extra fancy, pour a bit of balsamic reduction over the patty before adding the toppings.
THE PORTOBELLO BURGER For a delicious veggie burger even meat eaters will love, use a portobello mushroom as your patty. Remove the stems, then marinate the mushrooms for 15 minutes in a mixture of 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and a clove of minced garlic. Season the shrooms with salt and pepper, then place them on the grill just as you would any other burger. Gruyere cheese is the perfect creamy topping, and you can use grilled focaccia bread topped with garlic aioli. As you bask in the late spring weather and the inviting smell of delicious food this Memorial Day, take a moment to remember the Americans who gave their lives so we could enjoy these freedoms, and thank those who served.
Is there anything more American than grilling a burger outside on Memorial Day? This year, there’s another reason to fire up the grill that weekend: In addition to being Memorial Day, May 28 is also National Hamburger Day! Enjoy this delicious coincidence by heating up the grill, gathering the fixings, and making one of these tasty burgers at home.
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