Edinburg - WWII hero Pedro Cano will be posthumously honored with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor at a ceremony in Edinburg on May 18 2010. State Representative Aaron Pea has announced that Governor Rick Perry will present the medal to the Cano family at the Edinburg Municipal Auditorium at 3:00 p.m. Rep. Pea authored HCR 5 the legislation that conferred the medal to the Edinburg soldier for heroic acts performed in service of country.
I am so proud the State of Texas has elected to recognize the bravery of Pedro Cano. More than a namesake for a road and an elementary school this unassuming soldier from Edinburg exemplified the best in all of us. From the humblest of beginnings he was one of our greatest said Rep. Pea.
Pedro Cano earned our nations second highest military decoration the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in WWII. Cano was presented the medal at a ceremony in Edinburgs town square on April 26 1946. Thousands of residents witnesses the event. Tragically Canos life ended six years later in a traffic accident in Pharr.
The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded by the State of Texas. It is designated by a concurrent resolution of the Legislature. It is awarded to a member of the state or federal military forces who voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the person for gallantry and intrepidity.
In 2008 Rep. Pea secured the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for another Edinburg hero Freddy Gonzalez. Edinburg now boasts the distinction of being the only city in Texas with two recipients of our states highest military honor which has been awarded to six serviceman prior to Cano.
Photo: Rep. Pea is shown with Rep. Frank Corte and Valley Veterans in Austin after HCR 5 was passed out of the House Committee on Defense and Veterans Affairs.
