Texas Insider

A Day of Remembrance Every Third Wednesday in September
 
 AUSTIN – Dr. Hector P. Garcia, founder of the American GI Forum and civil rights leader, will have a Texas State Holiday named in his honor.

The founder of the American GI Forum (AGIF) and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, under legislation authored by State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, will have a statewide day of remembrance every third Wednesday of September. State Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, carried the bill in the House. Hinojosa’s Senate Bill 495 passed the House, and earlier the Senate, and now goes to Gov. Rick Perry to be signed into law.

The third Wednesday of September, which falls within National Hispanic Heritage Month, will be regularly observed with ceremonies and activities in public schools civic centers and other places.

AGIF State Commander Paul Herrera, in a letter to legislators,  thanked them for their support. Mr. Herrera and members of the Texas AGIF Legislative Agenda Team worked hard to have this and other veterans’ bill passed.

Ms. Cecilia Akers-Garcia, Dr. Garcia’s daughter, and her husband Jim worked equally as hard to get the state holiday passed.

Herrera told the Texas Insider that he spoke with Mrs. Akers-Garcia and congratulated her.

“She was pleased and said she had thanked Senator Hinojosa and the AGIF for their help and support. She was grateful that all the hard work paid off for her father’s day of recognition and thanked all who helped and supported the effort,” Herrera said.

He also spoke to Wanda Garcia, eldest of the Garcia daughters.

“She too was thankful for the work the AGIF did, and the efforts of her “Papa’s” work. He certainly deserves it and this will allow the recognition of all he did to be passed on to the younger generation to remember,” Garcia said.

“We suffered along with him all the abuse he endured for work and the stance he took.” Herrera concluded.

Herrera also said that the AGIF will be celebrating the event at their upcoming convention next month in Waco. “Chapters in other states are have been notified and thank Texas for being the leader in getting this day of recognition for Dr. Hector P. Garcia”

Garcia, whose legacy was Education and Freedom, is an  American hero who fought for equality and fair treatment for all Americans. One of his most profound statements became the American GI Forum’s motto, “Education is our freedom and freedom should be everybody’s business.”

Dr. Garcia, a veteran of WWII was born in Llera, Tamaulipas, in 1914. His family moved to Mercedes, Texas, when he was young. He attended the University of Texas and became a physician.

Garcia served in the Army, first as a combat soldier, earning a Bronze Star and six battle stars, later served as a combat doctor in World War II. Garcia settled in Corpus Christi with his wife Wanda.

He founded the American G.I. Forum in 1948 to help Hispanic soldiers with their GI Bill Benefits after returning home from World War II. Garcia and the American GI Forum gained national recognition when he secured full military burial honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. for Pvt. Felix Longoria of Three Rivers, Texas. Longoria, a Hispanic who was killed in the Philippines during the last days of World War II, was turned away from a local funeral home and segregated cemetery.

Garcia, adviser to Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Jimmy Carter served as the first Hispanic on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He also served as an ambassador to the United Nations and represented the United States at many state events throughout South and Central America. He received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1984 from President Ronald Reagan. He died in July 26, 1996.

Dr. Garcia inspired many of our present and past representatives from south Texas to run and get elected to the State Legislature. He was a role model that inspired many Americans and will now have a day in Texas to be remembered and honored every year.