Whereas May 5, or Cinco de Mayo
in Spanish,
is celebrated each year as a date of great importance by the Mexican and
Mexican-American communities;
Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5,
1862, the date on which the Battle of Puebla was fought by Mexicans who were
struggling for their independence and freedom;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo has become one of Mexico’s most
famous national holidays and is celebrated annually by nearly all Mexicans and
Mexican-Americans, north and south of the United States-Mexico border;
Whereas the Battle of Puebla was but one of the many
battles that the courageous Mexican people won in their long and brave struggle
for independence and freedom;
Whereas the French, confident that their battle-seasoned
troops were far superior to the almost amateurish Mexican forces, expected
little or no opposition from the Mexican army;
Whereas the French army, which had not experienced defeat
against any of Europe’s finest troops in over half a century, sustained a
disastrous loss at the hands of an outnumbered, ill-equipped, and ragged, but
highly spirited and courageous, Mexican force;
Whereas after three bloody assaults upon Puebla in which
over a thousand gallant Frenchmen lost their lives, the French troops were
finally defeated and driven back by the outnumbered Mexican troops;
Whereas the courageous and heroic spirit that Mexican
General Zaragoza and his men displayed during this historic battle can never be
forgotten;
Whereas many brave Mexicans willingly gave their lives for
the causes of justice and freedom in the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de
Mayo;
Whereas the sacrifice of the Mexican fighters was
instrumental in keeping Mexico from falling under European domination;
Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday is not only the
commemoration of the rout of the French troops at the town of Puebla in Mexico,
but is also a celebration of the virtues of individual courage and patriotism
of all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who have fought for freedom and
independence against foreign aggressors;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder that the
foundation of the United States is built by people from many nations and
diverse cultures who are willing to fight and die for freedom;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of the
close spiritual and economic ties between the people of Mexico and the people
of the United States, and is especially important for the people of the
southwestern States where millions of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans make their
homes;
Whereas in a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the
right of a free people to self-determination, just as Benito Juarez once said,
El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz
(The respect of
other people's rights is peace
); and
Whereas many people celebrate during the entire week in
which Cinco de Mayo falls: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)recognizes the
historical struggle for independence and freedom of the people of Mexico;
and
(2)calls upon the
people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.