[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3043-H3044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CINCO DE MAYO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Cinco de Mayo. I rise 
to recognize and remember the importance of this day and salute the 
millions of Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent that will 
celebrate throughout the Americas this day, this important day.
  While the War Between the States was raging in the 1860s, at the same 
time, on May 5 in 1862 an undersized, inadequately armed band of 
Mexicans determined to defend their land, fought a lopsided contest 
against their oppressors, those oppressors who were invading their 
homes.
  Many people assume that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day 
from Spain, but that is not correct. Mexico's actual Independence Day 
is September 16, 1821. Some 40 years after Mexico achieved independence 
from Spain, their country was once again threatened, this time by the 
French. And that year, Napoleon III sent a massive, mighty military 
force to Mexico to unseat President Benito Juarez.

[[Page H3044]]

  The French plan was to overthrow Juarez and take over the country. 
However, their overconfidence brought about their proudful downfall. 
They even brought along a Hapsburg prince, Maximilian, to be the new 
king over the Mexican empire. They were sorely mistaken in their ideal.
  Napoleon's French army had not been defeated in 50 years and did not 
expect to lose this battle with these people. This distinguished, well-
trained Army marched in with the finest equipment and the arrogance to 
go along with it. The French were not afraid of anything, but they 
should have been. Little did they know that the Mexicans would give 
them a fight to remember.
  On May 5, 1862, the French Army left the Port of Vera Cruz to attack 
Mexico City. The French assumed that if they could take down the 
capitol, all of Mexico and their people would surrender.
  The Mexicans were under the command of a Texas-born general, General 
Ignacio Seguin Zaragosa, and they waited and waited for the French, 
determined, diligent, and dedicated to defending this land. As the 
French Army headed to Mexico City, they were halted on the way. On May 
5, 1862, while the cannons roared and rifle shots rang out, the French 
attacked 2 Mexican forts. Before the day was over, more than 1,000 
French soldiers were dead. Against all odds, this hastily-assembled 
Mexican Army had routed the French imperialism in the city of Puebla, 
despite being outnumbered 2 to 1. The French left Mexico, and they have 
never returned.
  So Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration in Mexico as well as the 
United States. In my home State of Texas, where there are over 6 
million Americans of Mexican descent, there are numerous celebrations 
taking place all over the State and in towns on this date. Cinco de 
Mayo is a wonderful opportunity to salute the contributions being made 
by all Hispanics in the Lone Star State and all of America. In my 
district, the second district of Texas, we have over 80,000 Hispanic 
members of the community. I feel fortunate to represent and live in a 
community that benefits from the dynamic presence of this richly proud 
culture.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I rise to join all Americans and all Mexicans in 
recognition of this important day in history. The Mexicans who fought 
and died on a battlefield near Puebla 143 years ago represent the ideal 
and spirit of all humans, no matter what their race or their culture, 
to be free and be a free people.
  Their determination embodied a spirit of freedom and patriotism. 
Cinco de Mayo is a chance for everyone to remember how essential our 
freedom is, how difficult it is to obtain, and how vigilant we must 
remain to defend it, no matter the cost.

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