[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING ANGELICA ``KELA'' GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 18, 2022

  Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
the life of Mrs. Angelica ``Kela'' Garcia of Edinburg, Texas, who 
dedicated her life to serving our country and South Texas. Mrs. Garcia 
was born on February 7, 1923, in Tabasco, Texas to her parents, Melecio 
and Andrea Gonzalez, as the youngest of eight children. At the age of 
24, she married Mr. Felipe Garcia, Sr. with whom she lovingly raised 
nine children: Ramon Garcia, Nora Linda Garcia, Thelma Garcia, Felipe 
Garcia Jr., Roberto Garcia, Nora G. De Leon, Dalila A. Garcia, Leticia 
Garcia, and Romeo Garcia.
  Mrs. Garcia was the type of person that could accomplish anything she 
set her mind to. As a young girl, she wanted to learn how to play the 
piano, so she bartered with the local piano teacher, trading milk from 
their dairy cow in exchange for piano lessons. That fondness for and 
dedication to the arts extended beyond music to the poetry of Joyce 
Kilmer. In elementary school, she developed a talent for recitation, 
winning poetry recital contests at her school.
  After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, Mrs. Garcia 
answered the call to service. She became part of the historic ``Rosie 
the Riveter's Brigade'' as an airplane machinist in Marfa, Texas. 
There, she made critical contributions to our military readiness, work 
many women had never had the chance to do.
  Therefore, Madam Speaker, I stand here today to acknowledge the 
countless achievements and charitable acts of Mrs. Angelica ``Kela'' 
Garcia. She devoted her life for the betterment of our community, and I 
have no doubt that her legacy will be remembered by all who knew her. 
Her general love for life, her family, her friends, and country is 
admirable. May she rest in peace.

                          ____________________