CORPUS CHRISTI —The Cesar Chavez march today is a way for young and old to honor a man who fought for farm workers’ civil rights nationwide.

For one man it is a remembrance of meeting the union activist and sharing Chavez’s message.

"We the Latinos, the Mexican-Americans, we love Cesar Chavez because he was something special," said Victor Lara Ortegon, a founding member of the Cesar E. Chavez Committee. "He lived for us."

Ortegon said he met Chavez in April 1980 when he led Sen. Edward Kennedy’s presidential campaign into Corpus Christi. Ortegon was a Spanish radio host at the time and interviewed Chavez.

During the interview Chavez discussed Kennedy’s stance on helping Mexican-American farmworkers, education and conditions of farm workers in Corpus Christi, Ortegon said.

"He was a humble man and came over here to work hard for the recognition of union members," Ortegon said.

The 13th annual march begins at 1 p.m. at the Cesar Chavez memorial at Port Avenue and Agnes Street. Marchers will go to St. Joseph Catholic Church, where they will be blessed, and end at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center, 2021 Agnes St., for refreshments and music.

About 300 people are expected to participate in the event, including a group of students who attend Cesar E. Chavez Academy.

Students spent Friday making signs and banners for the march to show their support.

Chavez, who unionized farm workers and campaigned against the use of pesticides on fruits, died in 1993.

Paul Garcia, vice president of the Cesar E. Chavez Committee, said in 1999, two years after the organization was formed, members worked to change the name of Agnes Street to Cesar Chavez Avenue.

Similar compromises were made in San Antonio, for Commerce Street, and in Austin, for First Street, both of which have been named in honor of Chavez.

The City Council voted against the name change and opted for a parkway that bears Chavez’s name.

The Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway runs through Nueces and Jim Wells counties, including in Robstown, Banquete, Agua Dulce and Alice.

"We want people to remember him when they see the name of the street," Garcia said. "Especially the kids."