Grace Napolitano: “Thank you, Congressman Gonzalez. Thank you for allowing the Hispanic Caucus to speak today on this very important issue…”

“Thank you, Congressman Gonzalez. Thank you for allowing the Hispanic Caucus to speak today on this very important issue of Hispanic veterans and the problems that we have seen them face. I would like to relate a story of SGT Henry Meraz, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, who lives in my district. Sergeant Meraz grew up in El Paso, Texas, moved to California at age 17, registered with the Selective Service and was drafted into the Army in 1967. He served honorably on the special forces team in Vietnam, receiving five distinguished medals and a Purple Heart before being honorably discharged in October of 1969. He has lived a full, normal, law abiding, average American life with his family. He is married, he has retired from his job. He has one child currently in the university and a second one who is a Los Angeles deputy sheriff. In 2003, Mr. Meraz, Sergeant Meraz, went to renew his driver's license, whereupon he was shocked to learn that he was not a U.S. citizen, that his Social Security was not being recognized and the administration had listed him as a Mexican national.”