[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    MARGARITO CANO ``GUNNY'' VASQUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart 
to honor Margarito Cano ``Gunny'' Vasquez. For many years, we have 
worked side by side to help improve the quality of life for many 
Veterans and their families around the Houston area. Mr. Vasquez passed 
away on February 24th and on March 1st, the Houston Chronicle printed 
his obituary written by Pedro Pinto. In honor of Mr. Vasquez, I would 
like to submit the text into the Congressional Record:

       Margarito Cano ``Gunny'' Vasquez, who worked with programs 
     helping military veterans and their families, has died of 
     liver cancer. He was 77.
       Vasquez was a member of countless organizations, including 
     Veterans Incarcerated, which helped imprisoned veterans get 
     their lives in order.
       ``He helped incarcerated, disabled, and homeless 
     veterans,'' his son, Monte Vasquez, 33, said. In a 2005 
     interview with the Chronicle, Vasquez said he wanted his 
     incarcerated brothers to come out and be productive.
       ``My hope is to die as an honorable Marine, that I tried to 
     do what I could for veterans,'' he said then. He died on Feb. 
     24.
       Vasquez also worked for Kids with Disabilities First, an 
     organization dedicated to helping veterans' children with 
     Down syndrome.
       Vasquez also was instrumental with efforts to rename an 
     East End street after Navy veteran Cesar Chavez and acquire 
     the Houston Veterans Memorial Park, family and friends said.
       Vasquez was born on July 20, 1934, in Bastrop. After a 
     couple of years in the Army, he found his niche with the 
     Marines.
       ``Any Marine was his brother; his loyalty and love was with 
     the Marine Corps,'' said his son, Monte. ``If he could have 
     served his whole life there, he would have.''
       He got his nickname for having retired as a gunnery 
     sergeant.
       ``He instilled a lot of Marine in us,'' said his daughter 
     Margie Vasquez Lopez, 44. ``When we were little, he taught us 
     how to starch our clothes Marine style.''
       The family was proud of his volunteering, she said, but 
     didn't know he'd helped so many people.
       ``When he passed away, we learned how devoted and 
     recognized he was,'' she said. ``We had people calling us who 
     we didn't even know.''
       A prayer service will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Compean 
     Funeral Home, 2102 Broadway. Burial will follow at Houston 
     National Cemetery.
       Survivors include his wife, Consuelo, and six children, 
     Debra Ann, Margie, Michelle, Michael, Martin and Monte.

  With great sorrow, I honor Margarito Cano ``Gunny'' Vasquez for his 
efforts to improve not only the lives of Veterans, but their families 
as well. His efforts to help so many will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________