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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E91-E92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING MANUEL U. GARCIA
______
HON. J. LUIS CORREA
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I would like to take some time to honor
Manuel U. Garcia, a proud U.S. Citizen and Zacatecano that devoted his
life to theater, philanthropy, and his family. Regrettably Mr. Garcia
passed away on October 28, 2018 in Santa Ana, California at the age of
76 years old.
Mr. Garcia was born in El Cargadero, Zacatecas, Mexico to Francisco
and Antonia Garcia. He was the fourth child of a family of 10 children.
At the age of 21, he immigrated
[[Page E92]]
to the United States in 1962 as a member of the Bracero Program and
worked as a farm worker in Arizona and California. He eventually made
his way to Los Angeles where he attended community college to learn
English. In 1964 he moved to Santa Ana where he bought two homes. He
became an imperative resource to his family and friends arriving from
Mexico, providing them with temporary shelter, food and helping them
find jobs.
As a member of the Santa Ana Actors Club of the Yost Theater, he
helped bring Spanish-speaking theater to the growing Latino community
in Santa Ana by acting and writing screen plays and poems. He began
working as a laborer in 1966 and was a proud card-carrying member of
the Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 652, for more
than 50 years. During his 23 years as a laborer, he worked on many
construction projects throughout Southern California, including
numerous expansions to the Interstate 5 freeway and building the
Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
Mr. Garcia was married in 1971, to Reyna Silvia, and together they
had eight children: Leticia, Patricia, Alma, Elvira, Rosalva, Carlos,
David, and Teresa. He was also the father to Johnny and the grandfather
to 13 grandchildren.
After nearly 30 years in the United States, he was inspired to become
a citizen as a result of the anti-immigrant sentiment in California in
the 1990s. He was proud to become a U.S. citizen on March 9, 1999, and
quickly registered to vote as a Democrat. He made sure he voted in
every election, and took pride to learn about all candidates, local
measures, and statewide propositions to make sure he made informed
decisions.
Manuel was also very proud of his Mexican nationality, and frequently
visited El Cargadero--a small town in the state of Zacatecas. He was
instrumental in helping build a health clinic, a library with
computers, a funeral home, and update the elementary school. For nearly
four decades, he partnered with many Mexican government officials to
further help improve his hometown. He spearheaded projects to build a
bridge, expand the central plaza, build a new townhall, public
restrooms, a new baseball stadium, and improve local infrastructure.
Manuel was also an avid baseball fan. He was a loyal fan of the Los
Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels. He played recreational
baseball for many years with his brothers, and as a parent coached many
teams for the Santa Ana Little League. In his retirement years, he
worked part-time as a janitor at the Los Angeles Angels stadium while
enjoying a good game--the best of two worlds.
Mr. Garcia was a generous man who continuously found ways to give
back to his community. His generosity reached hundreds of people and
will be missed by friends and family. Madam Speaker, I am proud to
recognize Manuel U. Garcia.
____________________