AMERICAN PATRIOTISM

Adam S. Eterovich

www.croatians.com

One of the most interesting pioneers was John Mitrovich, who instigated the first Fourth of July celebration in Downey, California. Downey and El Monte were settled by Southern sympathizers. who did not favor the Stars and Stripes. It was the approaching the Fourth in the 1860’s and John made several suggestions to hold a real celebration. Of course, he was met with many scowls, unpleasant remarks and grunts of dissension.

Old Glory

However, the morning of the Fourth arrived and Mitrovich grabbed the flag halyards and yanked “Old Glory” to full staff. The story says that all day long the belligerent “Slavonian” marched up and down before the flag pole with a loaded musket on his shoulder waiting for someone to pull down his banner.

Saloon Business

At sunset he let the flag float down, folded it up and went back to his saloon to resume the business for the evening. The records reveal that Mitrovich ran a saloon in Downey for many years and his place was decent and lawful. He was an honorable, upright man, according to those who knew him, and steeped in American loyalty. He passed away in 1910.

Confederate Army

It should be noted that one of his namesakes, Private Michiele Mitrovich, was in Cognevich’s Company, 4th Regiment, European Brigade, Confederate Army of Louisiana in 1861.