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Happy 66th Birthday Today, March 26, 2014 we celebrate 66 years of serving Veterans and families. We Salute our founder Dr. Hector P. Garcia and all Forumeers past and present who have made this possible. On March 26, 1948, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, and WWII Veterans created the American GI Forum. Since then, many prominent people have donated their time, resources and talent to the Organiza- tion. Members, long gone and some that are still with us. Charter members and Legends: Gus Garcia, James De Anda, Ed Idar, Cris Aldarete, Pete Espinoza, George I. Sanchez, R.P. ‘Bob’ Sanchez, Charter members, Arsenio Resen- dez, Joe Montoya, Dan Contreras, Jose Cueva, Jose Zapata, Joe Espinoza, Felix Sandoval, Isaac Bojas, Wil- lie Davila, Sam Dominguez, and early members: Agustin Lucio, Manuel Nuñez, Amador Garcia, Gilbert Garcia, Virgilio Roel, Frank Orozco, Dr. Fermin Calderon, José Cano, Antonio Morales, Vicente Ximenez, Louis Telles, JOe Juarez, Tony Gallegos, Leo Avila, Jake Alarid, Bernie Sandoval, Monsignor Juraschek, Robert Cuel- lar, Celestino Mendez, Lalo Calderon, Raul Izaquirre, Gregorio Coronado, Humberto Aguirre, Pete Chapa, Manuel Casanova, Don Pacheco, Juan Mireles, Gil Rodriguez, Brownie Treviño, Carlos Marti- nez, Al Galvan, Manuel Cepeda, Gilbert Jasso, Gilbert Casarez, Lupe Gutierrez, and let’s not forget women: Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia, Dominga Coronado, Nora Gonzales, Jessie Flores de Hoyos, Isable Telles, Sara Barela, Ida Acuña, Martha Villalobos, Rebecca Escobedo, Marian Martinez, Maria Ramirez, Barbara Olivas, Emi- lie Valles, Linda Mills, Lupe Merrit, Lupe Rodriguez, Frances Cepeda, Jeannie Aleman, Beatriz Perez, Tina Olivares, Guillerman Morales, and many others whom we don’t have room to mention. We now have new young members who will help further the goals of the American GI Forum, the legacy to continue Dr. Garcia’s work.. On our Website, agiftx.org, we have photos of early members. We will continue to add to our “Hall of Leg- ends” from time to time as we receive photos. We must never forget our history. v
