Crowning Day for Miss San Pedro, Ola Marina "Olita" Squires stepping out of a float into the arms of Jose Pacifico Garcia, aka Spanish, probably 1988
Margaret Leahy-Conner:
This was a Miss San Pedro float. I am the designer and builder. The horse pulling the carriage was made of paper mache. The legs moved in a trotting sequence, this mechanism was designed built by a carpenter from El Salvador. I cannot remember his name. His daughter was his assistant. He had 13 sons and 1 daughter. She was the only one who learned his trade. The carriage is built over a one cylinder Black and Decker tractor. The man in the top hat reaching out to her is definitely Jose Pacifico Garcia, aka Spanish.
Fiona Elliott: Pretty sure this was year after me and that was Dulce Wolfe's baby sister I think. But I may have been around if I was passing the crown to another. I received mine from Flor Marin and gave it up next year to Wilema Alamilla. The name of the lady stepping down won't come to me, I am thinking the youngest Squires sister. I think it would be crowning day. Ms SP contest was always at night and crowning I think was on Independence day because of the float and parades. Or maybe they had a special day...
Caribe Forman: Olita was the youngest Squires (after Deni and Mini) and that was the official coronation day escorted by the great “Spanish.” He and Maggie were loved by everyone. Without them, festivals would have been bland. They brought the life and spirit to every celebration.
Photograph courtesy Jesse Cope
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