El veintiuno de agosto/August 21st

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Photo from wikipedia. 
¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Emiliano "Emilio" Mercado del Toro! (1891-2007)

A supercentenarian who at age 115 was the world's oldest living man for six weeks, Mercado del Toro was born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico when Puerto Rico was still a part of Spain's empire. He remembers U.S. troops on the island in 1898 fighting to end Spain's rule. In October of 1918 he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in World War I (he was still at training camp when an armistice was signed a month later). Mercado del Toro worked in the cane fields until he was 81. He never married nor had children, but he spoke of having three girlfriends during his life. He credits his longevity on his sense of humor and eating funche, a dish consisting of boiled corn, codfish, and milk, every day. See a brief video of him being celebrated in Puerto Rico towards the end of his life HERE.

For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.

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