Manuel Lujan: “78 years ago, 4-year-old Anastacio was living in Tularosa, NM, a city 40 miles away from the Trinity test detonation…”

“78 years ago, 4-year-old Anastacio was living in Tularosa, NM, a city 40 miles away from the Trinity test detonation site. Now, little Anastacio didn't know it at the time--none of the families there did--but the world they were living in was contaminated in radioactive particles from the first nuclear test. And Anastacio grew to be a big family man, hunting and growing on the land enriched by a ditch system, an acequia system, that provided ample water and nourishment--great-grandparents, grandparents, mom and dads, children, and babies all eating and drinking contaminated food and water sources. Later in life, Anastacio Cordova developed prostate cancer and tongue cancer. The cancer metastasized to his neck and throat before becoming inoperable and consuming his body. His daughter Tina recalls him being only 125 pounds at the time of his death in 2013. Today, March 7--11 years ago on this day--Anastacio left us. For Anastacio's family, this was just one heartbreak from a long list of family members who have died or became seriously ill from radiation exposure. Tina Cordova--Anastacio's daughter--made it her life's mission to fight for justice and compensation for her family and the thousands of victims of our Nation's nuclear weapons program. This is Tina. Rosalie is holding her. Tina is with us today. Bernice Gutierrez is here with us as well. This is Henry Herrera, from Tularosa, NM, and Beatrice Gutierrez and her friends at a very young age.…”