[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E135-E136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMENDING BRUCE AIKEN

                                 ______


                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 19, 1995

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bruce Tansill 
Aiken, a native of Brownsville, Texas, who has dedicated his life to 
teaching the history between Mexico and the United States. In light of 
the fact that the Mexican-American War is often omitted from the time 
lines of this country's history, this is a particularly painful time 
for those of us who live in the American Southwest.
  This reality makes the illumination of the relationship between the 
United States and Mexico pivotal to understanding our future together. 
As an educator with a specialty in military history, Bruce Aiken has 
been the leading teacher of local history and area military history for 
our entire community.
  Many of those who occupy the Southwest are descended from families 
who have occupied this place for hundreds and hundreds of years--long 
before the American Revolution, much less the war for Texas' 
independence or the War with Mexico. Still others are descended from 
the immigrants who came to the United States from Mexico in search of a 
better social and economic life. Mexico has played a role in shaping 
our country since the beginning of our history--and Bruce Aiken has 
spent his life teaching people how to understand that integral 
relationship.
  After his service in the U.S. Army, Bruce served the Brownsville 
community as Administrator of the Brownsville Independent School 
District. From there, he joined the faculty of the University of Texas 
at Brownsville--and later became the executive director of the Historic 
Brownsville Museum, an association for which Bruce was the founding 
director.
  He is a widely recognized resource on local history for other 
authors, as well as an author in his own right. His outstanding work 
was recognized by Governor Ann Richards in 1993 by his appointment to 
the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board. In 1982 he was appointed 
to the Texas Professional Practices Commission by Governor Dolf 
Briscoe. In 1985 the Texas Historical Commission awarded Bruce a 
Citation for Distinguished Service.
  Bruce and I worked together on a project that was of great importance 
to me--establishing the Palo Alto National Battlefield Historic Site, 
just outside of Brownsville. Palo Alto was the only site of battle 
waged north of the Rio [[Page E136]] Grande between the U.S. and Mexico 
during the War.
  In 1993 Bruce was the co-host of the first annual Palo Alto 
Conference. This historic conference brought together academics, 
anthropologists, historians, political scientists, sociologists and 
military research analysts from both Mexico and the United States. It 
was the first time such a gathering occurred, and the lessons we all 
learned were monumental.
  Mr. Speaker, Bruce Aiken is a special man who has taught the 
Brownsville community much more about our history than anyone could 
have ever imagined. He has added to the history of our area, and our 
community is grateful to him for his efforts to bolster our education 
so that we will be better able to understand our future. January 19, 
1995, has been declared ``Bruce Aiken Day'' by the Board of Directors 
of the Historic Brownsville Museum Association. I hope my colleagues 
will join me in paying tribute to Bruce Aiken, a very special patriot, 
historian and teacher.

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