[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE SOUTHWEST H.S. CHAMPIONSHIP COLOR GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 14, 2003

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of the Southwest High School Championship Color Guard.
  Under the direction of Daniel J.U. Garcia, a Vietnam Marine Corps 
Veteran, and Mike Singh, a Korean War Navy Veteran and Chief Deputy in 
California's Imperial County Sheriffs Office, the Color Guard has made 
history by earning five Championship Titles!
  After being named the Imperial County High School Color Guard Parade 
Champions and the California Pageantry Productions Association Parade 
Champions, the team entered the Sharp Judging Association of California 
and the State Exhibition Color Guard Championship at Knotts Berry Farm, 
California and was named State Champions on March 22nd. They went on to 
become National Champions at the Sharp Judged Association Championship 
Competition on May 17th in San Dimas, California and were subsequently 
named International Champions at the Southwestern Regional 
International Championships on May 31st in Las Vegas.
  From the beginning, the Color Guard made a pact to present our 
National Colors and our five Military Service Flags with pride, 
dignity, and honor. The Color Guard members provide their own funding 
through fundraising activities for individual uniforms and for food, 
lodging and transportation to the sanctioned parades and competitions. 
They also set a goal to represent their families, friends, teachers, 
and school with honor during competitions. The team members set high 
standards for themselves and adhere to a rigid, written contract that 
was signed by parents, team members and coaches. The focus became 
``team effort, team spirit, and team accomplishment.''
  During their quest for the five Championship titles, the Color Guard 
entered and participated in numerous parades, winning first place 
trophies in all parade entry competitions throughout California. In 
addition, they have performed at countywide elementary and high schools 
on special holidays and at college and university ceremonies, including 
many graduation exercises. They have appeared at the Korean War 
Veterans Association, the American Legion Post Ceremonies, and the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and at ground breaking and ribbon cutting 
ceremonies throughout Imperial County.
  The members of the Color Guard include: Sindy De La Torre, 
Lieutenant, First Rifle; Maria Cabrera, Sergeant, Second Rifle; 
Cristobal Oviedo, Sergeant, Third Rifle; Maria Padilla, Sergeant, 
Fourth Rifle; Jessica Oviedo, Sergeant, American National Flag, First 
Flag; Marcia Luna, Sergeant, California Flag, Second Flag; Ivette 
Beltran, Sergeant, U.S. Army Flag, Third Flag; Eva Cabrera, Sergeant, 
U.S. Navy Flag, Fourth Flag; Brenda Hinojosa, Lieutenant, Marine Corp 
Flag, Fifth Flag; Adriana Villarreal, Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, Sixth 
Flag.
  I offer my congratulations to the Southwest High School Championship 
Color Guard on their fine achievements and their service to our 
community. They represent the best of our young men and women, and we 
can be proud of each individual, as well as of their team 
accomplishments.

                          ____________________