[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF RAYMUNDO M. BARRERA AND 
                           PLACIDA P. BARRERA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th wedding 
anniversary of Mr. Raymundo M. Barrera and Mrs. Placida P. Barrera. I 
congratulate the couple on spending over half a century married and 
going strong together.
  The couple is native to South Texas and has contributed to the 
community through their careers and service. Raymundo was born in 1926 
in Mission, Texas to Dr. Cayetano Barrera and Maria L. Martinez. That 
same year, Placida Pena was born to Reynaldo Pena and Josefa Ramirez in 
Guerra, Texas.
  Their life together began the day they met in Mission, Texas in 1940 
at their young age of 14 years old. As fate would have it, Placida 
lived with her aunt and was next door neighbors to Raymundo's family. 
At the start of the World War II, a year later, Placida went back to 
live with her parents in Jim Hogg County in a community name Guerra or 
El Colorado Ranch. She graduated from the Rio Grande City High School 
in 1945. Eight years later, she went back to Mission and reunited with 
Raymundo. Raymundo had served his country by being recruited into the 
Army and served in Europe in 1945. After Raymundo and Placida saw each 
other, Raymundo went back to Delaware where he was stationed. The two 
corresponded through letters while they were apart.
  By March 1950, in one of the many letters exchanged--Raymundo asked 
Placida to marry him. By April, they were engaged and on June 4, they 
were married. Throughout the years, the two have been stationed at 
Laredo Air Force Base, South Korea, Yokota, Japan, and Kansas. By 1969, 
Sgt. Raymundo Barrera retired from the military and moved to Laredo, 
Texas. Following his retirement, Raymundo attended colleges in Laredo 
and received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Placida earned 
her bachelor's degree in education and taught in Roma, Texas. She 
taught for 21 years within the United Independent School District, in 
Laredo, Texas. In 2001, she retired.
  Today, Raymundo and Placida are retired in Laredo, Texas. They have 
been blessed with six children, 20 grandchildren, and 16 great 
grandchildren.
  I congratulate Raymundo's and Placida's 60th wedding anniversary. 
They have experienced a great deal together, served the community of 
South Texas and the nation, and continue going strong jointly.

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