[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6784-6785]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 167--RECOGNIZING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 
                    MEXICAN HOLIDAY OF CINCO DE MAYO

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Reid of Nevada, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Udall of Colorado, and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 167

       Whereas May 5, or ``Cinco de Mayo'' in Spanish, is 
     celebrated each year as a date of great importance by the 
     Mexican and Mexican-American communities;
       Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, 
     the date on which the Battle of Puebla was fought by Mexicans 
     who were struggling for their independence and freedom;
       Whereas Cinco de Mayo has become one of the most famous 
     Mexican national holidays and is celebrated annually by 
     nearly all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, north and south of 
     the United States-Mexico border;
       Whereas the Battle of Puebla was but one of the many 
     battles that the courageous Mexican people won in their long 
     and brave struggle for independence and freedom;
       Whereas the French, confident that their battle-seasoned 
     troops were far superior to the almost amateurish Mexican 
     forces, expected little or no opposition from the Mexican 
     army;
       Whereas the French army, which had not experienced defeat 
     against any of the finest troops of Europe in more than half 
     a century, sustained a disastrous loss at the hands of an 
     outnumbered, ill-equipped, and ragged, but highly spirited 
     and courageous, Mexican force;
       Whereas after three bloody assaults on Puebla in which more 
     than a thousand gallant Frenchmen lost their lives, the 
     French troops were finally defeated and driven back by the 
     outnumbered Mexican troops;
       Whereas the courageous and heroic spirit that Mexican 
     General Zaragoza and his men displayed during that historic 
     battle can never be forgotten;
       Whereas many brave Mexicans willingly gave their lives for 
     the causes of justice and freedom in the Battle of Puebla on 
     Cinco de Mayo;
       Whereas the sacrifice of the Mexican fighters was 
     instrumental in keeping Mexico from falling under European 
     domination;
       Whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder that the 
     foundation of the United States is built by people from many 
     nations and diverse cultures who are willing to fight and die 
     for freedom;
       Whereas Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of the 
     close ties between the people of Mexico and the people of the 
     United States;
       Whereas in a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the 
     right of a free people to self-determination, just as Benito 
     Juarez once said, ``El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz'' 
     (``The respect of other people's rights is peace''); and
       Whereas many people celebrate during the entire week in 
     which Cinco de Mayo falls: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historical struggle for independence and 
     freedom of the people of Mexico; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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