Reunion unites neighborhood

…And it feels so good
Past, and present, residents of San Benito’s El Jardin “barrio” took part in a neighborhood-wide reunion at Ramsey Park, located within the neighborhood, along the Resaca on Saturday, October 14. Among those seen here are former and current neighborhood residents Rogelio Nunez, Cipirano Galvan, Liz Chavez, and Hector Barrera. (                                                                                                                                                                    Courtesy photo)

By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS

Over the years, as technology and social media have grown, communities have become less and less personable, with many citizens unable to recall their neighbor’s names.

In the ’60s, however, that was far from the case, as most of the barrios in San Benito were tight-knit. From helping out families in dire situations to making sure outsiders knew they had to show respect when coming into their community, residents of El Jardin have long shared a special bond that went far beyond regular friendships. That sentiment was on display this past weekend as Ramsey Park off Freddy Fender Street was packed with past and present El Jardin residents participating in the annual community reunion celebration.

Nearly 100 people, including many who make a yearly trip back to the Valley for the reunion, enjoyed an afternoon of food, music, and reminiscing. Hector Barrera, one of the organizers of the yearly event, noted that while a formal accounting of when the tradition started doesn’t exist, his oldest memories are of his family pooling resources with community neighbors.

“All of us in this barrio had similar experiences growing up of being migrant workers and going through struggles,” said Barrera. “I couldn’t tell you when the reunions started, but I know that when I was young, families in the neighborhood would get together after spending the summers picking cotton and fruits and vegetables and we would basically celebrate returning home safely. People would bring all kinds of food, and everyone in the neighborhood was invited. Everyone knew everyone in those times, and we all took care of each other as much as possible.”

The annual reunion has become such a staple in the city that several San Benito natives who moved away immediately after graduating make a point to leave their calendars open every October. Juan Trevino is one of those former “barrio boys” who has made it to the last five reunions despite residing in California for the previous three decades.

“I have a lot of family who still live here in El Jardin, and this neighborhood will always be a major part of who I am,” said a gleeful Trevino. “This reunion is very important to me, because El Jardin raised me and turned me into the man I am. I’m a proud barrio boy.”

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