[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE CARDOZA FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2017

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, family reunions are a great way of staying 
connected, strengthening bonds and recognizing heritage. As a member of 
the U.S. House of Representatives, I take this opportunity to commend 
and congratulate the Cardoza Family on the occasion of their 100th 
Anniversary and Family Reunion which was held at the Bird Ranch in 
Gustine, California on Saturday, September 9, 2017.
  There is nothing quite like a family reunion. Family from far and 
wide gather and share in the joy of fellowship, love and precious 
memories that reunions generate. Therefore, I commend and congratulate 
them and pray that they had a wonderful weekend.
  The Cardoza family story begins in the early 20th century. In 
approximately 1915-1916, Manuel S. Cardoza, an orphan, emigrated from 
the island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal. He was sponsored by his 
uncle, Joe S. Cardoza, and arrived to the San Joaquin Valley to work on 
his dairy farm. Manuel worked for room, board and a cow as his 
compensation. Their implied agreement was that as soon as Manuel had a 
string (15) of dairy cows he would go out on his own as a dairy farmer. 
He quickly accomplished his goal.
  At approximately the same time, Manuel Coelho emigrated from the 
island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal. His name has never appeared on 
any ship roster, but it is rumored that he was a stowaway destined for 
Stratford, California in the San Joaquin Valley. By 1916, Manuel had 
earned enough money to send for his family. Shortly thereafter, his 
wife, Rose, her daughters Lucy, Lucille, Olympia, and Margaret, and 
sons, John and Manuel, boarded the Cornucopia and sailed for the United 
States.
  Shortly after, Manuel S. Cardoza met Lucy Coelho, they married and 
started a dairy farm in partnership with another Azorean immigrant. The 
two were blessed with three sons and 5 daughters, whose descendants are 
here today. Through hard work, tenacity and faith, they survived World 
Wars and the Great Depression. They always managed to have enough to 
eat, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.
  The first generation consisted of dairymen; a butcher; an HVAC 
specialist; and a grocer. The occupations of the second generation 
consist of a wine specialist; a graphic artist; a doctor; a nurse; a 
teacher; an accountant; HVAC specialists; a real estate appraiser; a 
real estate broker; a politician; a cattleman; an office manager; CEO 
and a medical supplies specialist. The third generation includes 
marketing professionals; lawyers; accountants; teachers; financial 
advisors; construction managers; a pharmacist; tech professionals; an 
environmental consultant; and a software engineer. What the next 
generation will achieve only time will tell.
  Mr. Speaker it with great pleasure that I congratulate the Cardoza 
family on the occasion of their 100th anniversary and family reunion. 
The Cardoza family truly embodies the American dream. They are one of 
hundreds of thousands of Portuguese that came and settled in California 
to seek the opportunities that our state has given to immigrants past 
and immigrants present. I ask that you join me in wishing them 
continued success and prosperity.

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