[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 8678-8679]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MEXICAN HOLIDAY OF CINCO 
                                DE MAYO

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today Americans and individuals will observe 
the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo with celebrations and festivities. 
But sadly, most Americans do not know what we are really celebrating. 
That is why I have introduced H. Con. Res. 44, which recognizes the 
historical significance of Cinco de Mayo.
  Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of the date in 1862 on which the 
Mexican army, outnumbered, defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla, 
because they believed in the values of freedom and liberty, the same 
values that we celebrate today in the United States.
  Today, that same spirit is evident in Mexican-American culture, and 
we pay tribute to that great spirit on Cinco de Mayo. Latinos have 
fought in all of America's wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. 
They have given their lives, the ultimate sacrifice, for the freedoms 
that we enjoy here today. Many Latinos are fighting and dying today in 
Iraq. The foundation of our

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Nation was built by people from many nations and diverse cultures that 
were willing to fight and die for freedom.
  We observe today Cinco de Mayo. Let us remember what it stands for 
and why many individuals have given their lives for this day.

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