Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC On the anniversary of the founding of the American GI Forum U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas today introduced a resolution honoring founder Hector P. Garcia and commending the mission goals and ideals of the American GI Forum.
On March 26 1948 a young bold and compassionate Army veteran was joined by more than 700 fellow Mexican-American veterans in forming the American GI Forum in Corpus Christi to ensure that all veterans received equal benefits regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Garcia had witnessed too many fellow Hispanic veterans facing delays and neglect when seeking the educational financial and health benefits promised to them under the GI Bill and he took action to put an end to this discrimination.
In military service in medicine and in the civil rights movement Dr. Garcia answered the call of duty at every opportunity and made a positive difference in the lives of millions of Americans. His story reminds us all that with enough dedication each of us can make progress in our society if we are willing to step forward and act with conviction."
The text of Sen. Cornyns resolution is as follows:Whereas millions of Hispanic veterans returning home from World War II were segregated from other veterans groups and wrongfully denied services by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
Whereas in response to such inequities Hector P. Garcia a United States Army veteran and physician from Corpus Christi Texas founded the American GI Forum (AGIF) on March 26 1948;
Whereas the motto of AGIF is Education is our Freedom and Freedom Should be Everybodys Business;
Whereas in 1998 AGIF was granted a Federal charter pursuant to an Act of Congress (Public Law 105-231);
Whereas one of the purposes stated in the AGIF charter is fostering and enlarging equal educational opportunities equal economic opportunities equal justice under the law and equal political opportunities for all United States citizens regardless of race color religion sex or national origin;
Whereas the flagship Veterans Service Center of the AGIF National Veterans Outreach Program is based in San Antonio Texas and provides a continuum of care to veterans in need including employment training counseling and a homeless veterans reintegration program;
Whereas the AGIF Residential Center for Homeless Veterans has 80 transitional beds and 60 single-room apartments dedicated to the needs of our Nations homeless veterans;
Whereas AGIF is now the largest Federally-chartered Hispanic veterans organization in the United States with chapters in 40 States and Puerto Rico; and
Whereas AGIF continues to be a beacon of hope and an avenue for community involvement for returning veterans:
Now therefore be it
Resolved That the Senate
(1) Supports and commends the mission goals and ideals of the American GI Forum and its members; and
(2) Encourages others to join with the American GI Forum to ensure that veterans are never again denied the benefits they have earned through their service.
Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance and Judiciary Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committees Immigration Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General Texas Supreme Court Justice and Bexar County District Judge.
