The third Wednesday in September is Dr. Héctor P. García Texas State Recognition Day, honoring the work of Dr. Héctor P. García, a Mexican-American civil rights activist and founder of the American G. I. Forum. In his lifetime and among other achievements, Dr. García served in World War II where he earned numerous awards including the Bronze Star.
As founder and leader of the American G. I. Forum, the organization received national attention with its involvement with the Felix Longoria incident. Felix Longoria was a Mexican-American soldier killed during World War II. When his body was returned to his family for burial, the family was denied access to funeral services by the local funeral home in Three Rivers, Texas, because Longoria was Mexican-American. The American G. I. Forum found an ally in Senator Lyndon B. Johnson to help fight for the Longoria family. The fight led to Felix Longoria’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
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MERCEDES — When Elizandro Muñoz asks his college students if they’ve heard of Martin Luther King Jr. almost everyone raises their hands, but when he asks them about Dr. Hector P. Garcia, the civil rights leader who precedes most of those mentioned in the U.S. history books, he never gets the same response.
“How can that be?” Muñoz asks. “And I tell them all your life you’ve been learning about everybody else’s history except your own.”
Muñoz is a history professor at South Texas College in Weslaco where every semester he teaches his students about Garcia, a Mexican migrant who grew up in Mercedes and spent more than 50 years fighting for equality to all and founded the American GI Forum.
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The following is a guest post by Christy Chason, Liaison Specialist for the Veterans History Project (VHP).
Until recently, Dr. Héctor P. García was someone about whom I knew precious little. In fact, knowing what I know now, I am embarrassed to say that I had only ever heard his name in the context of my work environment. And that is a shame.
It’s time to burn his name into your memory cells, because Dr. Héctor P. García – a Mexican-born American civil rights pioneer, loving father, decorated World War II veteran and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, physician, surgeon and champion for equality, education and voting rights – helped to change the face of this country. I think it’s fitting that we pause to recognize him today, the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month.
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Incarnate Word Academy will be holding a special mass in celebration of the life of Dr. Hector P. Garcia.
When: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 @ 8:30am
Where: Incarnate Word Convent Chapel, 2920 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi, Tx 78404
Contact: (361) 883-8229 ext. 102 or [email protected]
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The History Associates of Maryland, in partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have received the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Collection for processing, cataloging, and digitization. This process is anticipated to be completed by December, 2017. The collection harbors in excess of 5000 photographs, and over 700 linear feet of documents.
The Garcia Collection represents the most extensive and expansive work of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement and chronicles information about Dr. Garcia’s advocacy for veterans, healthcare, voting rights, and education.
The digitization process will enable the entire world to view, research and appreciate the importance of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement since 1948. It will also detail the life and accomplishments of Dr. Garcia.
We are anticipating a preliminary on line exhibit by December, 2016. The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation is participating and fully supports this project that will finally have the work of Dr. Garcia recognized that will include more than 50 years of his advocacy that improved the lives of all Americans.
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