President Obama Tours La Paz, Visits César Chávez Gravesite

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Keene, California: President Obama on Monday morning visited the gravesite of civil rights icon César E. Chávez ahead of the ceremony to dedicate the César E. Chávez National Monument.  Joined by Helen Chávez, César's widow, the President laid a red rose on the grave, which has a simple wood cross with a center of iron. It is located by a fountain in a courtyard of the visitor's center at La Paz, where Chávez lived with his extended family for twenty-two years.
Holding Mrs. Chávez' hand, the President walked to the grave, and bent down and placed the rose, beneath a cloudless sunny sky.

"Beautiful," the President said as he placed the rose.

He stood to the side after, speaking for a few minutes with Paul F. Chávez, César's son and President of the César E. Chávez Foundation; Arturo S. Rodriguez, President, United Farm Workers; and Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers.  She was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House earlier this year.

The rose was a special hybrid created to honor Chávez, with its bright red the color of the United Farm Workers logo, and a fragrance beloved by the labor leader.  Beds of the special roses surround the gravesite.  After, the President spoke at the Monument dedication ceremony to a crowd of about 7,000, bussed in from a staging area in the nearby town of Tehachapi.

During his visit, the President also toured Chávez' office in his home.  Helen Chávez and other family members continue to live at the compound, despite its new designation as a national monument.  The National Park Service now owns two acres of the property, located in a canyon in the Tehachapi mountains.  (Above, in the office with from left Rodriguez, Helen Chávez, Huerta, Paul F. Chávez)

The President's Monument dedication ceremony was a break from a two-day fundraising junket through the Golden State.  He flew to San Francisco after for three more fundraisers after the event.  On Sunday, the President raised close to $7 million during three fundraisers in Los Angeles. (Above:  Chavez' grave)

The President travels to Ohio on Tuesday for more campaigning.

*Top two photos by Pete Souza/White House; third by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama