[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM OF THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 1998

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the American GI Forum of the United States, a truly outstanding 
organization that has served our Nation's veterans for fifty years. 
They are dedicated to addressing critical issues affecting veterans, 
with special emphasis on Hispanic American veterans and their families.
  Hispanic Americans have always been willing to fight for America's 
freedom and to defend our peace. They know what it means to wear the 
uniform of our country and to be willing to bear any sacrifice to keep 
America free. The American GI Forum has helped to resolve problems of 
discrimination or inequality endured by Hispanic American veterans.
  The American GI Forum is a national veterans family organization and 
was founded on March 26, 1948, in Corpus Christi, Texas by the late Dr. 
Hector P. Garcia, a medical doctor who was a veteran of World War II, 
and other Hispanic American veterans.
  The American GI Forum has more than 500 chapters in the United States 
and Puerto Rico. Although the Forum is predominantly Hispanic, it is a 
fully interracial organization. The American GI Forum is made up of 
three separate groups--the Veterans Forum, the Women's Forum, and the 
Youth Forum.
  The American GI Forum is the founding organization of the American GI 
Forum Hispanic Educational Foundation (HEF), a national educational and 
scholarship program. It was also the founding organization of the 
American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, Inc. (NVOP), 
which is the Nation's premier nonprofit community based service 
provider of employment and training, economic development, housing, and 
social service programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in saluting the members of 
the American GI Forum. Their hard work and dedication for America's 
veterans have set an example for all of us, I congratulate the American 
GI Forum on their fiftieth anniversary and I wish them continued 
success in all their future endeavors.

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