[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING JOSE RAMOS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2017

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember my dear friend, 
and fierce advocate for his fellow veterans, Jose Ramos. I am deeply 
saddened by his passing, and my thoughts are with his wife, Sylvia, and 
his family at this very difficult time. Jose was a member of my 
Veterans Advisory Committee and a well-respected resource for veterans 
throughout our community. He will always be remembered for his tireless 
work to gain national recognition for Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans 
Day.
  Jose Ramos was born in 1948 to Augustine and Herminia Ramos. He 
attended Garfield High School but chose to enlist in the Army when he 
was in 10th grade. He worked as an Army Combat Medic, and in 1968 he 
received the Purple Heart. After returning home, Jose worked at the Los 
Angeles County USC Medical Center and at Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Community Hospital. He retired in 1999.
  Like his fellow Vietnam veterans, Jose Ramos returned home from an 
unpopular war only to face hostility and resentment. And like his 
fellow soldiers, Jose quietly went back to his normal life, built a 
family and stayed in touch with his veteran friends. He became a 
powerful advocate for veterans in our community and across the country. 
It was his personal experiences, and those of his fellow GIs, that 
motivated him to work toward establishing a national day of 
recognition. He inspired many, including me, to help give Vietnam 
veterans their long overdue welcome home.
  His legacy lives on as several states all across the nation have 
already adopted Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. It is long past time 
for our country to officially recognize and commemorate their service. 
I will continue to introduce and advocate for legislation to establish 
a national `Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day' on behalf of Jose Ramos 
and all of our veterans who fought bravely in the Vietnam War.

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