[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE FRANK M. TEJEDA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

                             of pennsyvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 1997

  Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
our colleague and dear friend, Frank Tejeda. Because of an illness I 
was unable to cast a vote on the legislation in Frank's honor, but I 
support it wholeheartedly. Frank represented the best and the brightest 
that America offers. He was a man who never ceases to find ways to 
serve his country, many times at the risk of his own life. Whether on 
the battlefields of Vietnam, where he earned a Purple Heart and Bronze 
Star for valor, in this body, where he earned the respect of his 
colleagues, or on the streets of his home town of San Antonio, where he 
earned the love of his neighbors, Frank gave everything he had every 
day.
  Frank never stopped fighting. Just weeks ago, he vowed to fight the 
illness that eventually claimed him. We all believed him when he said 
he'd be back here with us. Frank was a man of honor and integrity. So 
we believed everything he said. Sadly for us, his last promise was the 
only one he could not keep.
   Frank stood for many things. But most of all, he stood for 
excellence. He left school at 17 to fight with the Marines in Vietnam. 
He was fond of saying, ``I was a grunt and proud of it. I wouldn't have 
it any other way.'' He carried that philosophy throughout his public 
career. He did whatever need doing in order to serve his constituents.
  He matched his heroism on the battlefield scholarship at some of this 
country's most prestigious universities, earning advanced degrees from 
the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard, and Yale. But most 
importantly, he never forgot the people of his beloved San Antonio. And 
they never forgot him. Over and over again, they called upon him to 
serve in ever higher office. For 10 years, he represented his neighbors 
in the Texas House. He served in the Texas Senate for 6 years, until 
his constituents honored us by sending Frank to serve in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor the memory of Frank Tejeda by renewing our 
commitment to serving the American people. His spirit will be here with 
us always. We should respect that spirit by following his example.

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