17 April 17

On this date in 1839, Guatemala became a republic. The country's convoluted history includes independence from Spain in 1821 (celebrated annually on 15 September) and a series of federations with the Mexican Empire and other nearby provinces, before Rafael Carrera, an "illiterate dictator with imperial designs" (nationsencyclopedia.com) created a republic of Guatemala in 1839.

My multicolor-striped tie was handmade in Guatemala by "Lily" (according to its label) and was purchased at our local Fair Trade store, PeaceCraft. Fair Trade is an international small business marketing exchange that delivers an honest wage to those who produce the goods.

On my tie bar, the center square is one-ninth of a silver pendant created to honor the birth of Mallie Jayden Elizabeth Kleppinger, in July 2013. The other segments from the monogrammed pendant belong to her parents and other family members, with the expectation that we can gather to "reunite" the pieces at future celebrations of special events in Mallie's life!