Amigos de Anza hosted the Fifth World 
Conference on Juan Bautista de Anza as a National Millennium Trails event at the Presidio of San Francisco on June 26-28. The conference opened with a welcome by Peter Cole, President of Amigos.
Jeanie Gillen of Riverside County Amigos presented "The Anza Trail Now and Then" based on her experiences with Nancy DuPont conducting the 1996 Commemorative Relay from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco.
Leo Barker, Presidio of San Francisco archeologist, conducted a tour of the recent digs that have contributed new knowledge of the Presidio's Spanish beginnings. Along the way, volunteers under the direction of the University of California Archeology Department interpreted original foundations made of boulders they had unearthed.The first day concluded with a wine and cheese reception in the conference headquarters, the Chapel of our Lady, built in 1864.
On day two, the Millennium Anza Expedition paraded in full costume to Pershing Square on the Presidio parade ground to participate in the annual June 27 Los Californianos San Francisco birthday commemoration.

Father Font and soldado on horse from Rancho del Sueno. (Photo: Nancy DuPont)

Members of Los Californianos, descendants of early Spanish settlers of California, honored their ancestors by placing flowers in a screen as the expedition role was called. The conferees then adjourned to the Golden Gate Club for lunch and an afternoon program, presided over by Norman Sims, President of the California State Horsemen.

Flying in from Washington D.C. was keynote speaker Jeff Olson, consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Accompanying him was Ms. Pat Reed of the American Express Company, funding sponsor of the White House Millennium Program. Jeff presented millennium flags to the Consul General of Spain, the National Park Service, George Cardinet, and Amigos de Anza county chairpersons present: Paul Trujillo, Monterey County; Joe Adamo, Santa Clara County; Sue Sheehan, San Mateo County; Marilyn Mendez, Santa Barbara County; and Jeannie Gillen, Riverside County.

Afternoon speakers were Maurice Bandy, President of Los Californianos; Betty Watts, Los Californianos Chairperson; Peter Cole; Brother Gwire

Cleary, Curator of Mission Dolores; Steve Haller, Presidio historian; Ron Kessler, speaking on Anza's tenure as Governor of New Mexico; Phil Kessinger demonstrating Web de Anza; and Mary Wasik, a teacher, showing how her students used web-based materials to create an astrolabe and determine latitudes as Father Font did.

At dinner, Oscar Sanchez of Mexicali, Baja California discussed the Anza route through Baja California. Paul Trujuillo translated. Eddie Grijalva of Orange County, a sixth generation descendent of Anza's Sergeant, spoke movingly on the life of his ancestor.

The final day started with a sacred walk along the recently marked Anza Trail on the Presidio between Battery Godfrey and Fort Point. Conducted by Ann-Marie Sayers, the walk entails a prayer at each step for those who have gone before and those who will come. After a box lunch at Mountain Lake,the conference concluded with a tour of Mission Dolores led by Brother Gwire Cleary.