Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez (December 9, 1905 – July 12, 1928), was a Mexican aviator and national hero, nicknamed the "Lindbergh of Mexico".

He was killed on the return part of a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States.

[11] Flying his plane The Mexico Excelsior, a Ryan Brougham similar to the Spirit of St. Louis, Carranza reached Washington, D.C., on June 12, 1928, after a forced landing in Mooresville, North Carolina.

[15] At Bolling Field, he was greeted by Acting Secretary of State Robert Olds, Mexican Ambassador Miguel Téllez, other dignitaries and spectators.

The next day, he had lunch with U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, who hosted the aviator at the Pan American Union.

According to The New York Times, the two had to have lunch there because The White House larder was empty due to the first family's impending departure for a vacation.

[22] He then flew to West Point where he also reviewed the troops, an honor infrequently given to a visiting official with the rank of just Captain.

He went at the request of Edith Nourse Rogers who was responsible for the lifting of an embargo of aviation products to Mexico.

Those in attendance at the Luncheon were his father Sebastian Carranza, General Pedro Caloca, Robert Lee Bullard, and Hugh A.

There is a story that on July 12 Carranza received a telegram from Mexican War Minister Joaquín Amaro ordering his immediate return to Mexico City "or the quality of your manhood will be in doubt."

His corpse was wrapped in canvas from the plane's fuselage and taken to a garage behind Buzby's General Store in Chatsworth where it was placed in a makeshift coffin.

[39] The Mexican government rewarded John Carr with $500 for finding and quickly reporting the location of the plane and body.

[40] Authorities initially identified Carranza's body from the Weather Bureau telegram found in his flight jacket pocket, according to news reports.

[43] When transferred to the train at Penn Station, the coffin was led by six black horses in a caisson with 10,000 troops marching to a muffled drum beat down Broadway.

[44] Every Mexican military officer was ordered to wear crape on his sword hilt and a black brassard on his arm in honor of Carranza.

[49] In 1931, a 12 ft (3.6 m) monument in the Wharton State Forest in Tabernacle Township, New Jersey, marks the site of his crash 39°46′38.6″N 74°37′56.6″W / 39.777389°N 74.632389°W / 39.777389; -74.632389.

The monument, installed with funds donated by Mexican schoolchildren, depicts a falling eagle of Aztec design.

[5] The stones for the monument were quarried from granite mined near his home[52] and each block represented a different Mexican State.

The focus of the bill was to primarily provide for the restoration and maintenance of the Emilio Carranza memorial monument.

The work was performed by T. Scott Kreilick, whose Pennsylvania-based conservation company have also restored headstones at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and New York City's botanical garden.

[63] In 2007, documentary filmmaker Dr Robert A. Emmons Jr. completed and premiered a feature-length documentary (Goodwill: The Flight of Emilio Carranza) which detailed the life of Carranza and the role of the American Legion Post 11 as well as the town of Chatsworth, New Jersey's involvement in his recovery and memorial.

According to Emmons Jr: "Goodwill, the documentary film, presents Carranza's life and the legacy he has left in both Mexico and the United States of America.

The film goes further as it investigates the differences between Carranza's legacy in these two nations brought on by social, political, and historical factors.

Finally, the film is meant to be bring another layer to Carranza and Lindbergh's goal of establishing a lasting goodwill between these two nations.

The documentary details the life of Emilio Carranza and the continued role of the American Legion Post 11 of Mount Holly, NJ's involvement in his recovery and their annual Memorial Service.

[65] On July 11, 2015, the 87th annual Tribute was attended by Commander of the Mexican Air Force, Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Rodriguez-Munguia and Maj. Gen. Victor Aguirre-Serna who presented a wreath.