House Joint Resolution 25-1018

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1018

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Martinez and Barron, Camacho, Carter, Armagost, Bacon, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brown, Caldwell, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Feret, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lukens, Mabrey, Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rydin, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Bird, Brooks, DeGraaf, English, Garcia, Gilchrist, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Luck, Phillips, Rutinel, Sirota, Suckla, Willford;

also SENATOR(S) Rodriguez and Gonzales J., Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman.

CONCERNING RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINA AND LATINO VETERANS.

WHEREAS, A diverse group with shared history and culture that identifies as Latina/o, Hispanic, and Chicana/o, among other shared identities, including many faiths, orientations, and all gender identities has fought in support of the United States and the cause of freedom in every American conflict since the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, During the Revolutionary War, Colonel Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor of the Louisiana territories, and his men helped General George Washington and the Continental Army defeat the British forces advancing into the then-southwestern U.S. territories; and

WHEREAS, In the 150 years following the American Revolution, Latina/o service members fought with distinction in support of the United States in conflicts including the Spanish-American War and World War I. During World War II, Latina/o contributions in the Armed Forces increased extraordinarily; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 500,000 Latina/o Americans, many of them women and the children of immigrants, fought for the cause of freedom in World War II, among them the 158th Regimental Combat Team, nicknamed the "Bushmasters", and Company E of the 141st Infantry Regiment, which consisted entirely of Mexican-American soldiers; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, in the aftermath of World War II, Dr. Hector Garcia founded the American GI Forum to ensure educational, medical, housing, and other benefits and services for Latina/o veterans. Dr. Garcia and the American GI Forum worked diligently to secure equal access to benefits, and in 1984, Dr. Garcia was the first Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and

WHEREAS, In the Korean War, the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as "the Borinqueneers", served with distinction and valor; for their efforts, they were awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. In 2014, the unit was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal; and

WHEREAS, During the Vietnam War, more than 80,000 Latina/o service members served, 22 of whom were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; Latinas/os have also served the United States in the Global War on Terrorism, Gulf Wars, and elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, In total, 59 Hispanic or Latina/o veterans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in the United States Armed Forces; the medal is the country's highest award for military valor; and

WHEREAS, Today, more than 200,000 Latinas/os are active duty members of the Armed Forces, and more than 1.5 million Latina/o veterans call the United States, including Colorado, home; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

That we, the members of the General Assembly, recognize and commend the efforts and sacrifice of the millions of Latinas/os who have served the cause of freedom as part of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this Joint Resolution be sent to the American GI Forum of Colorado.