Latina & Latino Veterans

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-1006

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Camacho and Barron, Bacon, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brown, Caldwell, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, English, Espenoza, Feret, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lindsay, Lukens, Mabrey, Martinez, Mauro, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Richardson, Ricks, Rutinel, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, W oog, Zokaie, McCluskie; also SENATOR(S) Zamora Wilson and Rodriguez, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., · Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Snyder, Wallace, Weissman, 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 ofthe 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 141 st 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, 60 Hispanic or Latino· 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 ofthe State ofColorado, the Senate concurring herein:

That we, the members of the General Assembly, recognize and commend the efforts and sacrifice of the millions ofLatinas/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.

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE