[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 28 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E376-E377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF DR. HECTOR GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 16, 1998

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Ms. Speaker, today I rise to honor the late Dr. Hector 
Garcia. It was on this day, March 26th, that Dr. Garcia was born. It is 
fitting that we should pay tribute to him on this special day of 
remembrance.
  Born in Mexico, his family fled the country when he was only four 
years old. This was during the Mexican Revolution when so many sought 
refuge in the United States. The Garcia family settled in Texas where 
young Hector Garcia's life began its course. After his graduation from 
the University of Texas Medical School, Garcia joined the Army. He 
served his country overseas, in World War II, as an infantryman, combat 
engineer and medical corps officer. His distinguished service earned 
him the Bronze Star with six Battle Stars.
  After the war, he began a medical practice in Corpus Christi, Texas. 
As a medical doctor for the Veterans Administration, he saw the need to 
assist the Latino veterans in their fight for benefits. There was a 
great deal of prejudice toward the Latinos who had fought for their 
country, yet were not afforded the same rights and privileges given to 
others. At this

[[Page E377]]

moment in history an occurrence took place that would forever changed 
Dr. Garcia's life and thrust him into the national spotlight.
  When a funeral home in Three Rivers, Texas, refused burial services 
for a Mexican-American Army Private Felix Longoria, who had died 
fighting for his country in the Philippines, Dr. Garcia organized the 
outraged Latino community in protest against this treatment of a fellow 
American and soldier. The protests were noticed by Senator Lyndon B. 
Johnson. The Senator's intervention brought an end to the travesty and 
the Army private was buried with full honors at Arlington National 
Cemetery.
  The incident preceded the founding of the American GI Forum of the 
United States by Dr. Garcia. Created to assist individuals with their 
VA benefits, the organization soon took on a deeper meaning and a more 
vital cause. The American GI Forum became the rallying organization for 
equal rights in housing, jobs, education, and voting. It also sought to 
eradicate discrimination and to desegregate the schools, the churches, 
the theaters, and restaurants--any place that a human being should be 
allowed the dignity and freedom that he deserved.
  Dr. Garcia's life was filled with so many noteworthy and honorable 
distinctions. In 1968, President Johnson made him the first Mexican 
American to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. And, in 1984, 
President Ronald Reagan conferred upon him one of our country's highest 
and most prestigious honors--the Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom 
is the highest civilian award given to those who have made humanitarian 
contributions to their fellow man and who have a deep belief in the 
traditional American ideals.
  Today, Dr. Hector Garcia's vision lives on. The American GI Forum now 
has the veterans of the Vietnam War and the Gulf War carrying on the 
fight for human dignity. The traditions and the message that Garcia 
believed in are perhaps expressed best in the ``Prayer of St. Francis 
of Assisi,'' the official prayer of the American GI Forum: ``Lord, Make 
me an instrument of Thy Peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love . 
. .'' Dr. Garcia lived this prayer. Please join me today in paying 
tribute to this great humanitarian.

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