[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 411 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 411

 Honoring the life and recognizing the accomplishments of Texas civil 
                  rights pioneer Dr. Hector P. Garcia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            December 19 (legislative day, December 18), 2007

  Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the life and recognizing the accomplishments of Texas civil 
                  rights pioneer Dr. Hector P. Garcia.

Whereas Hector P. Garcia was born on January 17, 1914, in Llera, a small town in 
        south central Tamaulipas, Mexico;
Whereas Hector P. Garcia was brought to Mercedes, Texas, as a small child when 
        his parents fled the Mexican Revolution in 1917;
Whereas Dr. Hector P. Garcia graduated from the University of Texas Medical 
        School in 1940, and later joined the United States Army;
Whereas Dr. Hector P. Garcia served as an infantryman, a combat engineer, and a 
        medical doctor during World War II, and earned the Bronze Star medal 
        with six battle stars for his distinguished service;
Whereas Dr. Hector P. Garcia founded the American GI Forum in 1948 to fight for 
        equal treatment of Mexican-American veterans, including proper medical 
        treatment and educational benefits;
Whereas, in 1949, Dr. Hector P. Garcia secured a burial with full military 
        honors at Arlington National Cemetery for Pvt. Felix Longoria after a 
        Texas funeral home refused to hold a wake for Pvt. Longoria, a U.S. 
        soldier killed during World War II, for the sole reason that he was 
        Hispanic;
Whereas President Lyndon Johnson made Dr. Hector P. Garcia the first Mexican-
        American to serve as an ambassador to the United Nations;
Whereas Dr. Hector P. Garcia was the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. 
        Commission on Civil Rights;
Whereas, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan bestowed upon Dr. Hector P. Garcia the 
        Presidential Medal of Freedom;
Whereas Dr. Hector P. Garcia devoted his life to fighting for civil rights and 
        educational access for Mexican-Americans; and
Whereas this Nation has benefited from Dr. Hector P. Garcia's legacy of 
        generosity and commitment to equality: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate honors the life of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, 
a selfless physician, decorated World War II veteran, dedicated family 
man, and civil rights hero, and joins in the celebration of his 
birthday, January 17.
                                 <all>