Cinco De Mayo, NASA, Temecula and Victories

"I wonder, what is the history of that?" It's a question that often leads me into new knowledge about things I've taken for granted. For example, Cinco de Mayo. It's a big deal in California—more so than in other states, and even more so than in Mexico. I decided to dig into it, and my exploration linked the holiday to NASA; that trail landed me at an exciting connection right here in the Temecula Valley. The common root for my journey was constant victory. Read on for the adventure of Cinco de Mayo, NASA, Temecula, and Victories.

The Cinco De Mayo Victories

Over the years, celebrations seem to lose the "main thing" of the original event. Christmas, for example, has become more about consumers and Santa than the birth of a Savior in Jesus. The same is true for Cinco de Mayo. There are those who believe the celebration is about Mexican independence. Others believe it is about American civil rights. Neither of those is exactly true.

The 26th (and first indigenous) President of Mexico, Benito Juárez, declared May 5th a national holiday in Mexico as a celebration of a victory at the Battle of Puebla. The Mexican militia, outnumbered two to one by French invaders, repelled an attempt to capture the country for France. The victory emboldened national pride and created independence for approximately one year. That independence ended when the French returned with an even bigger army to capture Mexico and rule it for three long years before withdrawing. The celebration of bootstrap victory stuck and then transferred to the United States via California, where in the '60s and '70s, it morphed into a celebration of hard-fought civil rights victories.

In my exploration, I discovered that Mole poblano is considered the official dish of the holiday—a victory for my palate—and that the holiday is celebrated in Washington, D.C., with the annual Running of the Chihuahuas. The political irony is rich, but I'll stay focused on victories.

Before I reveal just how Cinco De Mayo, NASA, Temecula and Victories all tie together, here are some local places you will find excellent celebration in the coming days: 

• Oak Mountain Winery is kicking things off early on May 3, 2026, with an all-day party from 11 AM to 8 PM. 

• On Cinco de Mayo itself (May 5, 2026), you can check out Cinco de Mayo & Tea Tacos at The Empressa starting at 5 PM (make sure you get a reservation!).

• Also on May 5th, Los Panchos Mexican Grill & Cantina is known for hosting festive events, so you know they’ll be ready to party.

If you can’t make it to those spots, keep an eye on our local Temecula Valley Vineyards. You can usually find special tacos-and-wine pairings at many of them—a true taste of Temecula!

NASA and Cinco De Mayo and Victories

When I found out the Chihuahuas were running in D.C., I wondered what other over-the-top things happened on Cinco de Mayo. That's when I found out that the 5th of May marked a unique milestone in United States history. In 1961, it was the day the U.S. launched our first manned space flight. Astronaut Alan Shepard, frustrated with delays, famously told mission control to "fix your little problem and light this candle."

Just this month, we celebrated an extension of that Cinco de Momentos (Lloyd translation: "Fifth of moments") with the successful moon orbit and splashdown of Artemis II. The crew and NASA passed the far side of the Moon, making and ultimately breaking the Apollo 13 record for the farthest human distance from Earth, reaching roughly 252,756 miles. The unofficial and not-yet-famous quote from the mission: "We need a plumber." A comment that was surely uttered when the toilet stopped working in mid-flight. 

Now that we have the first two legs of our Cinco de Mayo, NASA, Temecula, and Victories covered, how does Temecula fit into this puzzle? Keep reading!

Temecula and NASA Connection

This blog is definitely a runner up to the old Dem Bones song when it comes to connection. Stay with me. 

I love the Temecula Valley so much. I ALWAYS assume there is some kind of root in Temecula's hidden history that makes it the perfect place to live the American Dream. I began to look for a connection between Temecula, Cinco de Mayo, Artemis, or NASA. That's when I found Liam Kennedy.

Liam is an online software engineer and amateur astronomer right here in Temecula who turned his passion for the stars into a mission. Years ago, he wanted a way for his grandson to see the International Space Station (ISS) flying overhead. So, he invented ISS-Above, a device that lights up to alert schools and libraries across the nation when the station is visible.

Liam’s 25-year victory—from watching the ISS being built when he lived in Irvine to perfecting his device—even led him to work with NASA engineers and a global company called Sen. They constructed a 4K camera called SpaceTV-1 that was launched into space. That camera is now linked to Liam’s ISS-Above educational tool, giving us a constant video feed of our world from space.

This past November, a fundraising celebration of Liam's contribution happened at Oak Grove in Old Town Temecula. The funds benefited the Oak Grove Center in Murrieta.

This last November a fundraising celebration of Liam’s contribution happened at Oak Grove in Old Town Temecula. The funds benefited the Oak Grove Center in Murrieta.

Cinco De Mayo, NASA, Temecula and Victories

There you have it: my top-of-mind, random journey through history to discover the wonderful celebration of victories in all things. Battles won through Cinco de Mayo, American firsts through NASA, and victories of stick-to-it-ness and self-determination in serving our children. Whether you are celebrating a historic military victory, a victory for human rights, or a victory for Temecula innovation that lets us all look down on our beautiful planet from above, I hope you have a great Cinco de Mayo!

Oh yeah, if you'd like to explore a personal victory in your next home purchase or sale, you know where to find me. I have over 40 years of real estate victories in the Temecula Valley and would love to get you from where you are to where you want to be.