Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, Latino servicemembers have been vital to the defense of our country, including the thousands who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is important that our communities and our government pay tribute to the diverse history of Latinos in the United States military, which is why I am proud that the House passed my bill, H.R. 5900, honoring World War II hero, Private Jacob Cruz, an Angeleno and Boyle Heights resident, and a United States Marine Corps Reserve private. Private Cruz was 17 years old and a junior at Roosevelt High School when he asked his single immigrant mother, Gracia Cruz, a custodian at White Memorial Medical Center, for permission to enlist. After initial training, Private Cruz shipped off to the Pacific where he gave his life running ammunition boxes to gunners amid enemy fire during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. Private Cruz's heroic devotion to duty posthumously earned him the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Unfortunately, his remains were not recovered after he was killed. During a storm in 2019, Mother Nature brushed away a house where the battle took place, and the remains of Mr. Cruz were found. In 2020 they were identified, and in 2021 they were finally returned to Private Cruz' family for a long-awaited proper burial with full military honors. In recognition of Private Cruz' service and sacrifice, the House passed H.R. 5900 designating the Boyle Heights Post Office as the Marine Corps Reserve Private Jacob Cruz Post Office.…”