Santa Rosa High Students Roll Out Oxcart for Legend

When Maria Carrillo walked the El Camino Real with her children and ox-cart, she would be delighted today: the Santa Rosa High students remember her as their town's founder.

On Friday, students rolled out the Maria Carrillo oxcart, built to inspire local learning.

Golden State historian Riccardo Gaudino presented the challenge for the Maria Carrillo oxcart project to fix the reality of ignorance about Santa' Rosa's founding. Woodshop instructor Kevin Costello accepted. He inspired teachers and teens in art and auto shop, to add leadership to the USA PROUD Learning call-to-action for community service. Today's generations must act as champions to guarantee teens access to basic knowledge of their land.

The oxcart is ready to roll with oxen from Novato. This USA PROUD Learning community service will reach out to the 40,000 students in public schools, growing community awareness for teaching February 18 California's Founder Week. The displays will help fill the gap to teach local history. The oxcart's Mexican Alta California symbolism creates a living memorial to teach the story (How transportation routes) of her legendary trek of moving from San Diego to Santa Rosa on the Frontera Del Norte.

Her legend will continue to open local doors and minds to share our Golden Gate Frontier History Region, with the Pacific perspective, across the North Bay at parades and events. This year also commemorates the Portuguese navigator - Magellan 500 anniversary - of earth's first circumvention. Look for news about upcoming celebrations. www.usaproud.org

(Photo courtesy of student Patrick Costello, Golden State History)

Special thanks to Home Depot and Walmart Foundation.