[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 153 (Friday, September 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. ARMAND GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 3, 2021

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Brother Armand Garcia in celebration of his 90th birthday on Sunday, 
August 29.
  The 11th child of Ramon and Soledad Garcia, Brother Armand was born 
and raised in East Los Angeles. After graduating from Los Angeles 
College High School, he entered the Christian Brothers Novitiate at 
Mont La Salle, where he strengthened his deep relationship with God. He 
graduated in 1957 with his bachelor's in education from St. Mary's 
College and went on to teach at Sacred Heart High School in San 
Francisco. He then spent three years as the Director at the St. Joseph 
Boys Boarding School, and in 1964, he was sent to the Philippines to 
work at Bacolod High School.
  After obtaining his master's in linguistics from the University of 
Madrid in 1968, Brother Armand became the principal at La Salle High 
School in Bacolod, Philippines, where he continued to selflessly serve 
communities in need. He was later honored as The Adopted Son of Bacolod 
Occidental after being assigned to serve at De La Salle University and 
the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. In 1977 Brother Armand was 
sent to Tijuana, Mexico, where he created a successful volunteer-based 
school as well as the Centro La Salle Tijuana BC Foundation. This 
foundation grew into the Instituto Miguel-Hidalgo, Inc. Today, the 
foundation educates thousands of students in Tijuana, emulating the 
best of Christian Brothers' educational achievements.
  It is evident that Brother Armand has been an incredible teacher, 
mentor, and leader throughout his life of service. He was both a board 
member and honoree of the Napa Peace Table and the founder of the 
Instituto Latino De Adultos Foundation, which helps Napa Latinos 
succeed in their careers. He is described as a master teacher, 
innovator, community leader, and compassionate spiritual guide in every 
community he has lived and worked in. Brother Armand is turning 90 
years old on Sunday, August 29th. He will be celebrating his birthday 
surrounded by family and friends at Mont La Salle in Napa.
  Madam Speaker, there is no doubt Brother Armand Garcia is truly a 
model citizen and an exemplary civil servant. Therefore, it is fitting 
and proper that we honor him here today.

                          ____________________