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Show Green, White and Red Colors of Mexico's Flag The colors of the Mexican flag, green, white and red, are symbolical symboli-cal of the aspirations of Mexico at the time it began its life as an Independent nation. However, states an authority In the Washington Wash-ington Post the meaning of the national coat of arms 13 much more deeply rooted in the history, in the traditions and in the personality of the country. The eagle which perched upon a cactus plant, strangling a serpent, is rich in meaning, rich in symbolism. For centuries on end It has lived In the hearts of the Mexicans, in the hearts of the people who descended . from the first settlers of the Valley Val-ley of Mexico; and, besides being very much alive In cherished traditions, tra-ditions, it may have lived in reality; real-ity; it must have lived In reality. In the beginning of the Four teenth century the Aztecs, an Indian In-dian tribe, wandered into the rich valley of Mexico from the north, and spread throughout that Dart of the country. In 1325, having halted on the shore of the principal lake, they beheld, perched upon a cactus plant, a royal eagle of extraordinary ex-traordinary size and beauty, with a serpent In its talons and its broad wing3 opened tQ th This was considered an excellent omen by the priests and the place was chosen as the site of a great Aztec city. The foundations of this future metropolis were laid at once by sinking piles Into the shallows, for the low marshes were half burled bur-led In water. Such were the beginnings begin-nings of the Great Tenochltlan. cap-ital cap-ital of a mighty empire whose degree de-gree of civilization astounded tl conquering Spaniards led by Cor tez into Mexico. During colonial times the nopal and the eagle appeared at various times as decorative motives in the Wh n in?'8 VhSaty 0,M'o her . Independence was attained 'n 1-S-l the trlcolored flag Wa, -lop.ed, and an eagle perched uo the nop.-u (cactus plant) ana dangling a serpent, became the national coat of arms |