Celebrating Mexico in the suburbs

The sound of Mexican mariachi music, the smell of Mexican food and the sight of Mexican flags - painted on faces and flown in the air - took over downtown West Chicago Sunday.

A parade complete with horses, official vehicles and a Mexican-American soldier kicked off a daylong celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

Mayor Mike Kwasman said the celebration reminds him of the history of the U.S. as much as it does the independence of Mexico.

"The United States of America was built by people from different lands and who spoke different languages," Kwasman said, as an interpreter repeated the words in Spanish. "We are proud of our ethnic diversity."

For the third year, the city coordinated the event and invited Mexican-Americans from throughout the region. The parade was followed by live music down Main Street for the rest of the evening.

Kwasman said the ideal situation is one where Mexicans and Americans work together.

"We want to learn from your culture and we want you to learn from ours," he said.

Ruben Pineda, a Texas-born Mexican-American and 13-year city councilman who has spent most of his life in West Chicago, said the celebration is a natural fit for West Chicago, which he said is nearly half Hispanic.

"They have a lot of pride within that community," Pineda said. "We are proud to have it here."

Pineda said his parents raised him and his brothers to know and appreciate both parts of their backgrounds. At home, he learned both languages and grew up in the West Chicago school system. He said his parents stressed learning in order to be prepared to contribute to society.

As the city's only Hispanic councilman in its more than 150-year history, Pineda said he hopes others come forward.

"It's been very hard to get other Hispanic people to become leaders in their community," he said. "You don't get a lot of people that step up. You would think we would have more leaders. I'd like to see it."