45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO STUDY THE HERB PURSLANE, ALSO KNOWN AS VERDOLAGAS, FOR POTENTIAL DESIGNATION AS THE STATE HERB.

WHEREAS, many New Mexicans served their country with honor and distinction in World War II; and

WHEREAS, many of them suffered and died during their forced participation in the infamous Bataan Death March in the Philippine campaign and in prisoner of war camps; and

WHEREAS, many New Mexicans who survived the Bataan Death March sustained themselves by eating the plant purslane, also known as verdolagas, which was found growing wild along the way; and

WHEREAS, Paul Trujillo was one such New Mexican who survived the Bataan Death March by consuming purslane; and

WHEREAS, purslane is also native to New Mexico and is found growing throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Paul Trujillo recently passed away at age eighty-three; and

WHEREAS, his friends Cristobal Martinez of the national association of retired federal employees; Ray Gomez; Hilario G. Maes, a vocational agriculture and future farmers of America teacher; Tony Scarborough; and Anita Roybal have testified that it was Paul Trujillo's lifelong dream to honor the role purslane played in the survival of New Mexicans along the Bataan Death March and in prisoner of war camps by designating purslane as the state herb of New Mexico;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico department of agriculture be requested to study the potential for naming purslane, also known as verdolagas, as the state herb of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture.